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Authenticity is Everything
Con Artist who tried to Scam AML Members -- EXPOSED!
Now we have the full story and I can share it with the members:
Around Aug. 1st a new member first going by the name of “Christopher Bolte” now known as “Daffy Duck” posted in the “Buy, Sell, Trade” Group stating that he had a huge Beatles autograph collection some of which he was willing to trade for Michael Jackson autographed items. I friended him on AML and after we exchanged emails he sent me scans of 5 or 6 Beatles related items including a John Lennon signed “Imagine” and McCartney signed “Butcher” LP – both with scans of LOAs from Frank Caiazzo and PSA. The other items also looked good and had LOAs from PSA, JSA, or Caiazzo. He also sent me scans of some amazing signed Bruce Lee items. I saw he had “friended” 4 other members so I offered him 5 Michael Jackson signed items (nice ones) in exchange for the two LPs. He insisted we both send at the same time (the next day) and we would provide photo proof of the registered mailing labels. I agreed to these terms – but something didn’t feel right – as I emailed him a photo of me holding up my items and assumed he would do the same. The next morning a few hours before I was supposed to send him my items – I did a quick Google Search and found the exact same photos he sent me on Iconic Auction’s website under previous sales. Same cropping, background, etc – a clear cut and paste job.
http://iconicauctions.com/the_beatles__john_lennon_extraordinarily_...
I emailed him about this and he said he got the photos from the guy he bought the albums from and forwarded them on to me. When I asked him to send me a picture of him holding the albums (or any of the amazing stuff from his collection, he said he would in the future but “they were all in storage” at the moment. He did send me a receipt from a post office in Poland that showed a package was mailed to me that morning. I told him I was not going to send him anything until either I received his package – or photos of him with any of his items. He got all mad saying I was going back on the deal – but I held firm and told him he was deceptive by cutting and pasting those Iconic Images.
Well today, his package arrived – as I was not surprised to find NO ALBUMS in there – just an old piece of rubber! (I filmed myself picking up and signing for the package from the post office and opening it right there – so he can’t later say the albums were in there. The Gmail account he used is: adioskmfdmk@gmail.com and they are now bouncing back – so he disappeared (for now).
Here is the con artist’s name and address:
Krzysztof Bolte
Dembego 18A/local 2
02-796
City: Warsaw
Country: Poland
State: Mazowieckie
There were MANY red flags including:
1. He was a new member who just joined two days ago – and Steve Crykin said he opened the account from Belgium – yet wanted items shipped to Poland
2. He was eager to get the deal going very fast and accepted my first offer – with no counter or negotiating.
3. Since he did not want money (but only trade) there was no buyer protection on either Ebay or Paypal.
4. He claimed to have this amazing collection but did not supply any references or tell me where he got the items from.
5. He was fine with me just sending two of my five items first “And the rest later after you get my Beatles LPs” (which is an old con artist trick to instill trust and make me feel like HE was trusting ME and I would feel guilty if I didn’t send my items at the same time).
This scammer was clearing looking to steal Michael Jackson autographs for his collection – at the expense of the members of AML. This should be a warning to any member who receives offers like this in the future.
1. ALWAYS ask for pictures of the person holding up the actual items. (True, he may not send them – but at least you know he HAS them).
2. ASK FOR REFERENCES – if no one on the site knows him or if he can’t give you any names of companies or people he has done business with – be very suspicious.
3. If a deal looks too good to be true – it probably is.
I’m glad he did not get any members Michael Jackson autographs and that he wasted 45 bucks in postage sending his box of rubber to me!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by sling on
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I would add that person holding picture of item should also have in picture a newspaper with current date visible.
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Permalink Reply by JXE on
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That "old piece of rubber" you got is highly desirable, 100% authentic rubber used in the making of Rubber Soul!
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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on
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thanks for sharing this experience Bruce. The autograph industry is full of scammers.
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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on
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As the saying goes: "If it seems too good to be true it probably is".
Last year I got into very lengthy correspondence with an eBay seller after buying an item from him. The listing stated that he had many rare photographs that he would give the winner first refusal on.
When the list of photographs came I could hardly believe my eyes. To cut a long story short we were in very lengthy corresondence for many months before I sent any money but the total money sent (it was in several large instalments) got to a heady total (for me at least) before I saw anything from him (including the eBay win).
Although I felt I had got to know the seller very well through our emails and I could see him on various sites I was still a little nervous when I finally got to open his package. It wouldn't have been the first time that a package would have been filled with old newspaper.
Thankfully everything was above board and further purchases followed but I still wonder whether I was a bit foolhardy. Sometimes you have to balance risk and potential reward to bag that special item or bargain (in this case the former).
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Juice on
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Yes, but with eBay and Paypal you are covered under the buyer protection plan (which I have used before and they have been very good in refunding my money when a item either arrives damaged, turns out to be a fake, etc) Unless you send the money as "friend / family" which is extremely risky as that is not covered.
I've heard the same con artist is now trying it with people on Facebook -- so let the buyer beware.
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Permalink Reply by wascher on
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Do you have to have a Third party cert that its fake in order to be able to return?
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No, paypal/ebay does not require this. They really want to protect the buyer so as long as you pay on Paypal (not as friend/family) you have 120 days to return the item. (It used to be 45 days). I've heard that sellers don't like that buyers can take that much time -- I know it would bother me if someone waited that long to return something.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Charnick on
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wow, take a vacation from AML for a while, and what a story to come back to! glad to hear you're not really out anything except the time and aggravation... also wanted to add, and this is only second hand from a post over on the Blowout Cards forums (for the sports fans around) that as far PayPal buyer protection goes, if you purchase something from Germany, the seller only need provide proof of shipping to make prove their side... long story short, an US based buyer over on the BO forum bought a basketball card from a German-based seller, and it never arrived, and PayPal sided with the seller because he was able to prove he shipped the card. Buyer said PP had to based on German law. Have not confirmed this personally, but wanted to share. Something to keep in mind if ever purchasing from a German seller via PayPal.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Toney on
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Yep IV seen similar posts on a few Facebook autograph groups recently someone asking for MJ pieces and willing to trade big names for them. Ill keep an eye out for future posts from now on
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Permalink Reply by Robin McKay on
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If not already, this could be part of the T&C's for the buy/trade/sell section on AML to protect sellers and buyers, respectively.
I detest people who knowingly sell forgeries or have any other role in offloading them, by whatever means.
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Permalink Reply by John Kimball on
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Bruce can you share and show us the five Michael Jackson stuff you were willing to trade ? Please upload them with tamper proof watermark.
Please members avoid trading through the mail at all costs. It's better to do a trade in person with well guarded security.
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