First thing to do is run down the claim to see if it actually exists in the sellers name.  NEVER buy sight unseen.  If the seller won't allow actually going out and sampling, RUN at mach 3.  And don't just sample where the seller wants you to.  Are you buying to use or to flip?   Be aware there are two filing times of the year with BLM (end of August and end of Dec. Claim filing and proof of work)  Also filing with the county.  If over 20 acres, need to have one person per 20 acres or portion thereof.  IIRC you can buy a bigger claim and hold it the first year as an individual, but the next year has to have the right number of folks to keep at size.

BLM will take you fees and not let you know if you have been sold a bogus claim, and no refunds is the general rule.

Have never bought on line and never will.......BUYER BEWARE......lots of scammers.

Two things to never buy online.....a wife and a gold minig claim

  I'm always checking out the Gold claims on E-bay to learn and for entertainment...First the 'Clown' on E-bay who was selling a useless 'patented' Gold claim in the Cargo Muchacho mountains (So. Ca, & Az. and the Mexican border area) He stated  that he didn't own all of the claim, just 90%. The other 10% wouldn't sell. Here's the funny part, you cannot ever mine there ever again because of endangered Bats living in the mine...And the tree hugging environmentalists threatens to sue anyone who even enters the mine (The mine has a locked steel bat gate). So the new E-bay buyer couldn't own the mine, couldn't enter the mine, and couldn't mine in the mine...Go figure...What a joke, and yet the bids were up tp $5000...Maybe the bat freaks bought it.

  On the other hand, one seller who was very friendly & communicative, offered to meet me at the Big Bear Ca. Gold claim he was selling. He was ok with sampling, and the Pacific Crest Trail went through the claim, so there were people everywhere (by Crab Flats in Big Bear) I didn't buy it because it kept getting re sold on E-bay. I wondered if the USFS was interfering with restrictions in a sacred PCT area, but I don't know.

  Do your homework like Arthur said, and I hope the USFS doesn't chase you off of your own claim like they did recently in the Kern, Lake Isabella area. That was documented in the Pick & Shovel

  The Expedition seller on E-bay looks like he has some nice claims, but who knows...Are they mined out, free mill or expensive Sulfide ore? I would only be interested in a free mill site. And NOT in a 'Monument' & not in a 'Wilderness Area' (No vehicle access period). Our local FS Ranger said "The 1872 Mining Act gave you access with a Mule, it didn't say anything about a vehicle" So watch out for FS jerks wanting to stop mining in 'their' forests.

  All of these things must be looked into before buying...Why are they selling??? No Gold??? No access??? BLM & FS restrictions & intimidation???

Thank you guys for the input. I did research for the claim I do currently own, it wasnt much investment to secure it once I confirmed it was a true claim, and it is definitely in a gold bearing area.   I was also able to talk to the neighboring claim owner,  The only reason I did buy it sight unseen. Now I am interested in looking for a larger area to start a placer operation but that wont be until further down the road, and I certainly will do plenty of testing. But for a couple small 20 acre claims, I do know there are a few sellers who stake claims in good areas for good prices (less than $5000). I would be interested in picking a couple up knowing they are legitimate, so I can have a couple to work as I jump from state to state. So as far as recreational, affordable claims go....I was wondering if there were any sellers who are better to go with. I like the individual I bought my claim from, but he only only does a few at a time in Arizona. GRE has quite a few in Oregon, Montana....they come off as a trustworthy company but they dont show any testing to back up their guarantee!!

  That's cool, welcome Rick. Enjoy your dredging up there in Idaho. We are hoping & still trying to get Ca. Gold dredging going again.

Hello Rick WIlliams!  Thank you for your input.  I would absolutely like to claim my own land, after I spend some more time getting familiar with the producing gold areas I probably will.  I have a couple programs I will be using (footprints and Gold Maps online)  they are great resources for finding out current land information.  I would be interested in making up some kind of arrangements with you for mining eachother's claims.  Mine is in Yavapai County in Northern AZ, by the Bradshaw Mountains.  I am currently on the east coast, but we need to keep in touch for when I get back out west.  

@Rick WIlliams(again)      Yes, I do agree with the MT claims that are for sale.  The ores are amazing!  They seem pretty legitimate, and for the price you really cant go wrong.  I am interested in placer and lode.  I would love to be able to come across a rich vein and crush out some free milling gold.  It seems like people make out pretty well with that.  But I would certainly need to be able to take a couple samples from any mine to have assayed before purchase.