Counterfeits in Probably Stolen: how to spot fake Food Stamps, Hemingway cigarettes and more
Some items come in genuine and counterfeit versions: Food Stamps, Hemingway Cigarettes, Ribwich sandwiches and Immunivax Injectors. Use the Magnifying Glass on an inspectable item to open the Counterfeit Check tray and compare it with the matching handbook. One confirmed issue is enough to confront the customer. A correct accusation lowers the price and earns reputation; a wrong one costs reputation.
How does the Counterfeit Check work?
Items you can inspect show “Can be inspected with a Magnifying Glass”. The Magnifying Glass comes with the Appraiser Board membership (see appraisal).
- Use the Magnifying Glass on the item to open the Inspection Tray.
- Compare the item with the handbook or checker for that item type.
- Select the issue you found at the bottom of the tray (Lettering, Color, Seal, Logo, Box, Value, Chip, Indicator, Label, Serial or Body issues) and press Confront.
There are two situations:
- The customer claims the item is genuine and working. Confront them if you see any sign it is counterfeit or broken. One issue is enough. If you are right, the customer adjusts the price. If you are wrong, your reputation may take a hit and the customer may take their business elsewhere.
- The customer sells the item and claims it is counterfeit or broken. If you think they are wrong, say so: they raise the asking price and you gain reputation. If the item really is genuine, you can also tell them so.
How much value does a fake lose?
| Item | Counterfeit | Other defects |
|---|---|---|
| Pack of Hemingway Cigarettes | −50% | none |
| Food Stamp | −90% (it is worth little) | none |
| Immunivax Injector | −75% | Unusable −90%, Expired −50% |
| Packaged Rib Sandwich (Ribwich) | fixed 40 credits | opened or torn wrapper also 40 credits |
The game also runs a Counterfeit Medical Supplies Discovered event (“Medical Supplies Shortage”), which raises demand for genuine medical goods.
How do I spot a fake Food Stamp?
Use the Food Stamp Identification Handbook and the Republic Logo Checker. Both arrive on day 11 together with the Mentor’s note about stamps, unless a starting perk bans the Commissary. A genuine Food Stamp has:
- A valid value. Food Stamps are issued only in 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 credits. A stamp printed with any other value (for example, 10 credits more than a legitimate one) is a fake.
- A seal only at 160 credits or more. Stamps from 160 credits up must have a security seal; stamps below 160 must not. A missing or extra seal is a flag.
- A chip. Every Food Stamp has a chip. A missing or damaged chip makes it unusable even if it is genuine, so it is not a proof of forgery by itself.
- Correct lettering. Look for spelling errors, misaligned text, missing lettering or a different color or font.
- The official Republic logo. Compare it with the Republic Logo Checker. The game uses six logo variants, and only one is correct.
A counterfeit stamp always has at least one of these problems: wrong logo, wrong chip, bad lettering, a value shifted by 10 credits, or a wrong seal.
How do I spot counterfeit Hemingway cigarettes?
Use the Hemingway Identification Guide (Hemingway Cigarette Authenticity Handbook) and the Hemingway Color Checker.
- Seal. Hemingway cigarettes are never sold without a security seal. A missing or broken seal means counterfeit.
- Lettering. Spelling errors, misaligned text, uneven print quality, wrong color or font, or missing lettering indicate fraud.
- Color. Compare the pack with the Color Checker swatch; the game has four color variants for counterfeit packs.
- Logo. One logo among several is correct.
A counterfeit pack always carries at least one such flaw. Genuine cigarettes have none, and if you accuse a seller of genuine goods the seller denies it and you lose reputation.
How do I spot a counterfeit Ribwich?
Follow the Ribwich Appraisal Guide. A Ribwich is counterfeit if its production date is outside January 425 to December 429 or January 432 to December 438, its facility number is missing or outside 1 to 35, the Davre logo is missing or wrong, the Ribwich sticker is missing on a second-run sandwich (or present on a first-run one), or a Deluxe Edition has only one of the sesame bun and extra pickles. The full price table is on the appraisal page.
How do I spot a counterfeit Immunivax Injector?
Use the Immunivax Assessment Guide, which arrives on day 25. A counterfeit has one of these: a wrong or missing serial number, a wrong body color, or a misspelled or missing company or product name on the label. Unusable and expired injectors are also genuine-looking but defective: a recalled batch (250, 251, 301, 355, 385, 386, 421), a cracked body or a spent indicator. Details are on the appraisal page.
Full checklist, sources and the Sentinel Collapse rules: Immunivax Injector.
What are the Labeler and the Blue Labeler for?
Both are tools, not detection aids.
- The Labeler edits the label of an item that has one. You can label goods honestly or mislabel them to sell at a higher price. Different customers are better or worse at spotting a mislabeled item, and if you are caught selling an item worth less than its label, your reputation may take a hit. Ingot purity, equipment condition and wine quality labels cannot be edited.
- The Blue Labeler renames items.
FAQ
How many problems must I find to confront a customer? One is enough when the item is counterfeit.
What happens if I accuse a genuine item? You may lose reputation and the customer may leave.
Does a missing chip mean a Food Stamp is fake? No. A missing or damaged chip only makes a stamp unusable. It can still be genuine.
Do all Food Stamps have a seal? No. Only stamps with a printed value of 160 credits or more.
What is the Blue Labeler for? It renames items. The red Labeler edits their quality labels.