Vacuum Tubes - Chinese knock offs being sold as NOS?

Hello Audiogon,

So I was searching the ePay website for vacuum tube.  I came across 7 ... YES 7  adds for Mullard 12AT7 NOS CV4024 ECC81 M8162 - UK Military NEW UNOPENED GUARANTEED.

Evidence of foul play:

-  There are vendors all over the world (USA, Taiwan, Great Britain)

- The pictures listed in the all of the adds looks to be from the same source and are all white boxes (military style).

- The date codes on many of the tubes in the picture are the same 83-14.

- The picture of the big box the individual tube boxes come in looks to be the same picture in all of the adds, not to mention the cardboard of the outer box looks brand new.

- For the tubes shown removed from the box most are shown wrapped in thin packaging paper.  Strange that this paper is not yellowed at all as it would for 40+ year old tubes

- These tubes are RARE and expensive when for sale.  Funny to see no less than 7 adds for full boxes of "military tubes" at the same time.  To find a box full of 100s of these tubes would be the find of the century, and I am supposed to believe that 7 such boxes where found at places all over the world?

- I think the military style boxes were selected for the counterfeit as they are easier to fake than original factory boxes.

I have contacted a few sellers (not to buy but to ask why they are lying in their adds), I do not expect to hear back.

I initially was duped (did not purchase, but saved the initial add to my watch list until I saw the other adds pop up so frequently).  Hoping this helps spread awareness of this scam.

Thanks,

Dave