A forged Apple employee badge

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

An Apple “employee #10” ID badge auctioned on eBay is widely judged to be a forgery, with readers dissecting inconsistencies in the typography, photo, wear patterns and a purported German Red Cross invoice offered as provenance. Commenters use the case to explore how collectibles are authenticated, how easily fake documents can be fabricated with modern tools, and why marketplaces like eBay remain fertile ground for scams despite buyer protection policies. Many conclude that burden of proof should rest heavily on sellers and that rare memorabilia should be treated as inauthentic by default unless backed by robust, verifiable provenance.

Authenticity of the Apple badge

  • Most commenters conclude the badge is fake, citing:
    • A known early employee saying the photo is not the person named on the badge.
    • The badge’s date and design inconsistencies vs. another known early badge (#8 vs. #10 issue dates, different fonts, dimensions, camera quality).
    • The lamination looks artificially “sandpapered”; the inner photo/paper appears worn while the outer plastic and badge hole show almost no use.
    • The “map” on the back is traced from a known online floor plan.
  • A minority argue some specific “clues” (e.g., issue-date ordering) are weak by themselves and internet detective work can be overconfident, but they still generally accept the badge is fake overall.

Forged German Red Cross invoice & cultural tells

  • German speakers dismantle the invoice:
    • Wrong date format (slashes instead of dots).
    • Currency notation “DEM” and “3.000” DM price seen as implausible and/or misused.
    • Missing legally required information, VAT, and standard tax phrases.
    • Awkward or AI-like translations (e.g., “Wir danken Ihnen für Ihr Unternehmen/Geschäft”) that don’t fit a German invoice.
    • Use of “ZIP” vs. “PLZ”, odd embossing (EU-style stars), US Letter–like paper size.
  • Many see the invoice as fabricated solely to create plausible deniability (“I bought it from the Red Cross on eBay in 2001”) rather than genuine provenance.

Typewriters, printing, and typography

  • Long subthread debating whether the text quality matches an IBM Selectric:
    • Some say the clean, perfectly aligned text is too good for a 1970s typewriter.
    • Others counter that electric typewriters with carbon ribbons can produce very crisp output; misalignment depends on machine condition, paper, and ribbon type.
    • Links and anecdotes show real Selectric output often has visible alignment quirks; the badge’s text may be “too perfect.”

eBay, fraud, and collector behavior

  • Many say eBay is rife with fakes across categories (memorabilia, software, phones, coins); enforcement is weak.
  • Some describe buyers as “not powerless” due to chargebacks, while others note policy shifts and account bans make this risky.
  • Several argue the story’s real lesson is: assume high-value memorabilia is fake unless backed by robust, checkable provenance.

Certificates of authenticity and trust

  • Discussion on how to trust certificates:
    • You must trust the issuing body; that trust is ultimately social, legal, and reputational (“shared hallucination/intersubjectivity”).
    • Commenters compare this to CAs, rating agencies, and currency: the cryptography or paperwork only helps once a root of trust exists.
    • Some note this creates opportunities for meta-fraud (fake certificates, or certifying other certifiers).

Ethics, law, and “victimless” claims

  • One line of argument: publicly calling someone a forger risks defamation; if the evidence is strong, better to go to authorities.
  • Others respond that truth is a defense and the red flags are overwhelming; sharing analysis protects future buyers.
  • A few frame the sale as near “victimless”: wealthy, low-due-diligence collectors pay for feelings more than facts.
  • Counterpoint: it’s still fraud; buyers deserve accurate information and platforms should remove such sellers.

Forgery craft, motivation, and escalation

  • Several are impressed by the effort (badge, invoice, sob-story, multiple “collectible” listings) but see clear patterns of fakery, including other dubious items (concert tickets, “signed” letters).
  • Commenters note Cunningham’s Law: this analysis may help future forgers improve, but also helps detectors know what to scrutinize.
  • Some suspect the forger enjoys the craft itself; others see it as a straightforward grift that pays until caught.

Broader side threads: typewriters, focus, and tools

  • Extensive tangents on:
    • Why some people still use typewriters (focus, analog constraint, aesthetics).
    • Single-purpose “digital typewriters” vs. distraction-prone computers.
    • OCR quality (good on clean type, harder on receipts) and modern handwriting recognition.
  • These tie back indirectly: understanding period tools and media is key to spotting anachronisms in forgeries.