Think my friends cigars are fake

[Magnaflux777]

Hello Folks,
I was exchanging pic of cigars with my friend and I noticed in one of his pics the Cuban seal wasnt on the box but inside and the box printing itself looked suspect. From looking at the pic do you more knowledgeable folks think these are fake as I dont remember seeing the seal inside of the box. Thanks and take care.
Magnaflux

 

[occifer143]

They do not put seals inside a box period.

 

[BlindedByScience]

They do not put seals inside a box period.

Yep. Fugazi......

 

[Magnaflux777]

Thats what I thought. Here is another pic of a box he said he bought recently. Again seal is in the box. Dont want to tell him and be the bearer if bad news but also dont want to see him pay money for shite. Thanks again fellas.

 

[BlindedByScience]

....tough spot. Well, you could tell him you didn't know, and asked Grok (surprisingly accurate). Here's what Grok says;

Genuine Cuban cigars come with a holographic seal that is applied to the outside of the box, specifically as part of the official Cuban Government Warranty Seal (also known as the Habanos or Republic of Cuba warranty seal). This seal is positioned on the left side of the box lid, typically 3-6 mm from the edge, and extends down over the front edge. The hologram is integrated into the right side of this rectangular seal, which also includes a barcode on the left side for authenticity verification. The seal is printed on synthetic adhesive paper designed to destroy if removed, making it a key anti-counterfeiting feature.There is no holographic seal "in" the box (e.g., inside the packaging or on the cigars themselves, except in rare cases like certain Cohiba Behike bands). Additional external seals on the box include the Denomination of Origin Protegida (DOP) sticker in the top-right corner and hot-stamped imprints on the bottom (e.g., "Hecho en Cuba," "Totalmente a Mano," and "Habanos S.A."). Country-specific importer holograms may also appear on the outside for certain markets, but the primary Cuban holographic element is on the warranty seal.To verify authenticity, scan the barcode on the seal via the official Habanos website (habanos.com) or app, which should match the box contents. Always purchase from authorized retailers like La Casa del Habano stores to avoid counterfeits.

 

[jfields]

Hello Folks,
I was exchanging pic of cigars with my friend and I noticed in one of his pics the Cuban seal wasnt on the box but inside and the box printing itself looked suspect. From looking at the pic do you more knowledgeable folks think these are fake as I dont remember seeing the seal inside of the box. Thanks and take care.
Magnaflux

What a shame! Definitely fake.... Never have I seen a seal loose inside a box like that.

 

[CigarStone]

The ink on the inside of the lid looks very sloppy as well.

Do you know where he purchased them?