Brass painted lead/tin "pewter" alloy being sold as brass

Very often I will come across leaded pewter painted with a brass or bronze color and just wanted to know if anyone else has noticed it as well? I have found it in statues, lamps, and many other misc. cast brass and bronze looking items. Brass and bronze can be heavy but this stuff is always heavier, and when scratched reveals the shiny silver color of the mostly lead alloy. I'm curious how much is sold to scrapyards as clean brass and never noticed by the seller or the buyer until it reaches its final destination. I don't mind finding it because it actually cast beautifully.
I've also noticed it in the brass bin before and after it's sold, when I've mentioned it to the person who owned it, they usually say something like "nope that's tarnish" or "it's white brass". Obviously people don't want less money for something they believe is worth more and I suppose its not deception if everyone is ignorant.

Originally Posted by jeb1212

I doubt those "brass" lamps are made of pewter as pewter is more expensive than brass. In my experience "brass" lamps and such are die cast zinc that are brass plated.

When I said "pewter" I meant it sarcastically. It is mostly just lead. It is very easy to tell because I can gouge it with my fingernail. Die cast zinc is heavy, but not as heavy as this lead alloy, zinc is also much harder and has a ringing tone when dropped or struck.
The lamp body was older and when cast, had a similar appearance to a 95/5 Pb/Sn alloy.