A story which has been playing out in the mainstream media recently involves multiple lawsuits and controversy with regards to autographed memorabilia, including doctored photos altered to include images of items that are completely fictional in the context of the original photos, with instruments and other material added to unrelated photos. [Read more…]
Since today is “Black Friday”, I thought it would be appropriate to republish an editorial that I posted last year as the holiday season approached, warning consumers against the purchase of television and movie props, costumes, and other assets as gifts for loved ones. [Read more…]
eBay dealer “moniemon92” – with an account created in 2007 but with no recorded transactions until a few weeks ago – has listed a number of items for sale with “Global Antiques” certificates of authenticity. These auction offerings are dominated by listings of items owned/autographed by the recently deceased Michael Jackson. [Read more…]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued their Annual Report a few months ago. Among the highlights is that auction fraud – a frequent topic in the hobby of collecting original television and movie props and wardrobe – was reported to make up one of four complaints made to the organization. [Read more…]
One of the lead investigations conducted last year involved “original” memorabilia offered for sale with certificates of authenticity from “Global Antiques”, signed by Greg Jones. Pieces were sold on eBay via “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”. These accounts were suspended by eBay, and one of the collectors who purchased a number of items from these companies/individuals filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. [Read more…]
Mastro Auctions, the largest sports memorabilia auction house, has closed amid an FBI fraud investigation. Three Mastro executives have purchased the company’s assets and will launch a new company called Legendary Auctions. Part of the investigation by law enforcement is focused on charges of “shill bidding”. [Read more…]
Rick Spector of Stairway to the Stars directed me to an interesting article on the Maine Antique Digest website about art dealers who have plead guilty to a scheme involving their passing off art with manufactured origins, fictitious artist names and identities, and fraudulent certificates of authenticity (COAs). [Read more…]
The latest edition of AntiqueWeek includes a front page feature by Eric C. Rodenberg on the Global Antiques props sold on eBay by Auction Depot LA, Auction Shop USA, and Historic Souvenirs. Per their website, AntiqueWeek has “the largest paid circulation of any antiques and collectibles newspaper in the United States”. The full story can be read online at antiqueweek.com – “Sales of bogus movie props lead to suspensions on eBay” – also archived below: [Read more…]
