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I have been doing some extensive online reading tonight regarding this company.  To put it frankly: I feel ill.  Over the past couple years i have purchase about 10 autographed record albums (total dollar value - $450 - $500) from them without ever contemplating the possibility of a fake (my fault completely!!).  Some of them I still figure to be real because of the overall insignificance of the artists and the low dollar value. 
However, I purchased an autographed album of Stevie Ray Vaughan for roughly $100 on a 75% off sale (again I feel like an imbecile!).  I know that is quite inexpensive (and naive on my part) but I felt I was buying the real deal. 
Just tonight I came across a pile of damning accusations toward these guys (autographsamerica.com) and, like I said, now I feel that at least half of the purchases I have made may be fake.  For the money value I may as well chalk it up as a life lesson but what can I do to ensure what I do have is authentic without it costing me an arm and a leg?  I am just a music fan who wants a few nice pieces of memorabilia for my listening room...now I feel like a dupe.

The artists autographs that are in question are as follows:

Stevie Ray Vaughan
ZZ Top
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Judas Priest
Def Leppard
Rory Gallagher
Journey

Any information or advice would definitely be well received and greatly welcomed...thanks in advance!

I can post photos of the aforementioned records if that may help with the situation.

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Pretty bad, huh?
I'm surprised they aren't included on the list of COAs not allowed by eBay. I guess they don't turn up often enough?
Autographs American material turns out all the time unfortunately. EBay hasn't updated their list in years.
Uughhh....all anyone needs to make money these days is a sharpie, a few blank o-fish-i-al certiciates of authenticity and a website. Mary Benjamin's grave is disturbed.
These folks still have a website chock-full of the most bizarrely bad-looking autographed guitars, drums, LPs and photos.
...and a perpetual 80% off sale that ends in 2 days. Shameless. Does anyone know the approximate value range of the guitars, if the "autographs" were to be completely removed?
The non-vintage guitars are imported from China and I guess cost them maybe $50-$65 each. Don't really know.

Autographs America located at http://www.AutographsAmerica.com  is currently selling 100% fake autographs and a class action lawsuit has begun.  This is a National Consumer Warning Alert!  It is stated in countless places online elsewhere that every item in their inventory is a forgery.  While they feature 100s of photos of some guy (assumedly Brian Burkel) with several signed guitars and other items, not one of the guitars he’s holding up or any of the items shown in the photos are for sale.  Instead these photos are used to convince unknowing customers that they are selling real autographs which is very far from the truth.  NONE of these items will be accepted at any major auction house.  Please feel free to use some of their images and email any of the top auction houses worldwide and see.  The same of course can be said for any major autograph authenticator.  Again, we do not include Christopher “I’ve never seen an autograph I didn’t pass” Morales, the forger’s forensic friend.  I mean any of the suggested UACC approved authenticators, any of the top experts recognized in this hobby, or PSA/DNA or JSA.

aka- AutographsAmerica.com aka Brian Burkelhttp://www.AutographsAmerica ,  www.autographsamerica.com Autographs America is located 27708 SE 246th And Maple Valley Post Office Washington 98 U.S.A. Phone:425-433-8085      

Maple Valley WA

You can find others who have given their input and are starting a legal case against them here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/art-galleries/autographs-america/autogr...

 

If you have purchased autographs from these known forgers, we suggest you take ALL of the following actions.  Please know that these agencies will only take action with the more people letting them know about these forgers.  Please take the time out of your day to let others know so you can prevent these people from robbing others and hopefully you can see these criminals dragged from their homes in front of their neighbors in handcuffs like they belong:

 Call the Maple Valley, WA police department and file a complaint: (425) 413-5158      

Contact Congressman Dave Reichert (202) 225-7761       (202) 225-4282 Fax 

Contact the Maple Valley, WA news: http://www.voiceofthevalley.com/

Contacthttp://www.topix.com/topix/faq#site_added

http://www.topix.com/forum/recent

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_ki...

File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

File an online report: http://www.ripoffreport.com

File a complaint with the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

File a mail-fraud complaint with the USPS: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx

File a complaint with the National Fraud Information Center:  http://www.fraud.org/info/contactnfic.htm 

File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org

Contact Local and State Police Departments in your town/State as well as theirs.

 I can’t emphasize enough how important it is you for you to take the time to do these few steps.  It is only through consistent efforts and vigilance that we can get these criminals brought to justice.We also suggest doing blogs and free press releases so that this information gets copied to others.  Please copy all of this information documented here add your own story of how you got ripped off, and spread the word.

Free blog sites to do so include:

www.WordPress.comwww.Blogger.com

Submit press releases for free to as many of these as you can:

http://www.avangate.com/articles/press-release-distribution_69.htm


Autographs America sells fake forged autographed guitars

Autographs America sells fake autographed drumheads

AutographsAmerica is selling forged autographed signed albums/lps

Autographs America fake autographed posters for sale

AutographsAmerica.com sells fake celebrity Autographs

I am really disgusted by this company. For Christmas this year I purchased 3 items.

 

1) A Depeche Mode "Black Celebration" Lp , signed, for my boyfriend

2) A Garbage signed 10 inch drumhead for myself

3) A Tori Amos sign guitar with artwork, which is absolutely gorgeous by the way.

 

ALL OF THESE ARE FAKE! I bought a Depeche Mode biography for my boyfriend for his birthday, which triggered my doubts. It was signed by the lead singer, and came with a SUPER COA. This thing was DNA tested, the whole nine yards. It looked nothing like what was purchased through Autographs America. So. I started comparing around, and have to believe the signed Lp is a total fake.

 

I noticed on the website, the Tori Amos guitar is back. A different guitar, but the same Artwork by Tori. Odd. How many performers would do the same thing twice......and the signature is different. The one on my guitar is a good version, but fake. I had it verified through 2 seperate auto dealers. It also doesnt look like the CD she signed for me outside of David Letterman.

 

The Garbage signed 10 inch drumhead was also back. Another duplicate. That one is fake as well. The only thing that matches are the "S" and the "M" for Shirley Manson. The rest of the signature is horrible.

 

I have called them, sent an email....as well as sending the email to my attorney. My next step is to contact the police station where they are located.

 

THE WORST PART, was asking my friend to return his f***ing Christmas present. What a bunch of low-end dirtbags.

 

They have no idea how relentless I will be.

 

- Loren

I have found the lawyer who represents him.

 

I found it on the internet, and confirmed with the secretary that he is an actual client.

 

Maybe you should call him and tell him how you feel, just like I did.

 

I have also filed a police report and Mr Burkel will soon have a warrant for harrassment.

 

He called me dirty names, and was a complete scumbag piece of s***.......

 

Lawyer : Aric Bomsztyk

Barokas, Martin & Tomlinson

Located in Seattle, WA

206-621-1871

 

 

What's going on with your situation, Loren?

Well. Alot is going on. My boyfriend has been RELENTLESS in his pursuit. He works for the federal government, so he's had a few strings pulled. Seems our friends at Autographs America know how to work the system, and people in certain areas of that system are well aware of what they are doing. Im being vague, only because I dont want to touch on EVERYTHING we are doing. But its been good. We hired an attorney (The attorney for Autographs America is well aware of his client). Filed complaints with the Attorney General, filled out police reports for harrassment and fraud, contacted  Credit Card companies, as well as contacted serveral other federal agencies. Someone we know even contacted Brian Burkels ex wife lol. He seriously should have just granted us a refund. We will eventually hit him where it hurts. Trying to get his passport suspended so he cant flee the country. (Which, friends can do at the stroke of a key) We also found out he has not been paying the taxes on his business since a year or two ago (Found his tax records).......which the government is not too happy about.

We dont care about the money anymore, and he has made some very unwise business decisions.

So. It may take a little more time.  But things will happen.

Thanks for asking.

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