Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Morris on July 14, 2021 at 6:49pm

Well done for trusting your instincts and getting the proof it was a fake and shame on the seller for knowingly ripping people off. The price it sold for is crazy so hopefully the buyer might see this and also get their money back

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Permalink Reply by WHuffman on July 14, 2021 at 7:11pm

Dan - Thanks. That was my reason for putting it on here.

I'm here almost everyday reading, and watching for musician direct autograph sales. I don't comment much, but felt the need to bring this up hoping the buyer might see this in a search.

I was lucky to have found out in time to get a refund.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on July 14, 2021 at 7:36pm

Ditto on that!!!

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on July 14, 2021 at 6:57pm

"I reached out to PSA via email and was informed that the COA and sticker were counterfeit. They deactivated many of the items, but not the Scarlett...."

     I just looked this one up on PSA's site and the cert. number and description matches in their database. Short of PSA's site being hacked, how would a counterfeit number be listed on their site?  

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Permalink Reply by WHuffman on July 14, 2021 at 7:22pm

The people doing this go on PSA's site, look for authenticated names, than use those numbers by printing them on their fake sticker and COA. This was discussed in another thread under: Jack Nicholson "real" (not sure how to send link), where someone posted the fake photo and likely real one - both had the same PSA cert number. It's sad that PSA does not put photos of their authenticated items on their site. So many other companies do and it would help eliminate the problem. Seems they're starting to do more of that, but can't on old stuff. The odds of one buying a 'counterfeit' and finding the 'real' one to compare numbers is rare.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on July 14, 2021 at 7:57pm

Sure, that makes sense.  I know that JSA posts a scan of the item they have issued a letter for.  That seems more secure.  There would really be no way to verify for sure with the PSA database and no archived scan.

I'm just curious, did the fake cert. and sticker still look like the real deal after you knew the reality of the situation?

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Van Buskirk on August 14, 2021 at 6:51pm

This is why I ALWAYS dispose of fakes. I cut my losses and scrap the fakes. You never want those to be back on the open market again for other collectors to get ripped off. Bad practice. Cut your losses, don't be sucker and always do appropriate research before spending that kind of money.

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Permalink Reply by WHuffman on August 16, 2021 at 7:53am

Ryan,

I agree with you to a point - if I purchased an autograph, placed it in my collection, than later found out that it was fake - I would destroy it. I have in the past, and will continue to do so.

You're right, one should do as much research as possible to educate themselves. Forgers can be very good and have fooled the best of us (even on here). When I'm not sure, I reach out to members on here, or use PSA and Beckett. In this situation, I was trusting the fact that it was authenticated and stickered by PSA. I did not expect a counterfeit sticker and COA. Given the opportunity to return it through eBay, and receive my money back, I did. Unfortunately, in order to do that, I couldn't destroy the photo, but had to return it. I don't think many of us would eat that amount to 'learn a lesson', and don't think anyone can blame me for returning it as such.

Appreciate your input.  Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Nick Dimeo on August 16, 2021 at 8:25am

I don’t know what worries me more the fact that the seller was dishonest or a Scarlett Johansson autograph sold for $885! That’s Paul McCartney money right there.

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