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Authenticity is Everything
Forger Retaliation - And Should We "Look the Other Way"
About Three Years I ago, I noticed an eBay seller that would buy old photos of long deceased celebrities , and a short time later would post the same photos but autographed. I commented about it in another autograph forum. This person responded to my posts with threats. I never heard from him again until recently. He actually posted here in this forum. But, at the same time he posted here, several fabricated "ripoff" reports were all over the internet which entailed ludicrous claims that I sold him a John Hancock letter for over $100,000 that was a forgery and I will not refund him. Hence, I recently sent out the below letter to my customers. My question is is it better to just NOT get involved with the forgery element of the autograph industry due to this type of malicious retaliation?
Here is a copy of the letter I have sent to my regular customers. Feel free to comment:
I am contacting you today to make you aware of someone who has been posting derogatory blog reports about my business. About 3 years ago I noticed a seller on eBay that was buying photos and then weeks later that same photo would be autographed, by “deceased” celebrities (JFK, Bela Lugosi, John Wayne, etc). I commented on this fraudulent autograph seller on the autograph forum “Is It real”. He was eventually banned from selling autographs by eBay . But then I noticed this same individually from New Jersey opened a website that is inundated with obvious forgeries
Well at the time he threatened to sue me for “outing” him. But I didn’t hear from him for the past few years. Then in the Autograph Magazine Live forum I noticed a derogatory post by an individual that I was certain was this same guy. At the same time I was informed by a customer that there were several “Ripoff” type reports on the internet byt this person stating I sold him a John Hancock for over $100,000 that I forged and would not refund him. Well, the good thing is he didn’t make much effort to make his claim sound anything but laughable. You see, I have never even owned or sold a John Hancock (I WISH I did!), and Never sold anything at a fraction of $100,000. Way out of my league.
Now when you type my business name in Google you may see all these reports which are identical, copy and pasted under various anonymous names, but obviously the same guy. So, in the event you came across one of his postings, you know it is a 100% retaliatory fabrication for “outing” this autograph forger three years ago. I suspect what happened is someone else had posted a Real report against him based on a purchase they made from him more recently and he suspects it was me. But, for the past 20 + years I have always tried to be active in the collecting community combating fraud. But, with that responsibility is the risk of retaliation from the bad element that prey on collectors, particularly inexperienced collectors.
I understand why many dealers “don’t get involved”. However, if those within the industry do not contribute to combating fraud and criminal activity, who will? And what will be the ramifications to not just the autograph collecting industry but every other area of collecting, from $50 baseball cards to 50 million dollar paintings.
Kevin
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DB on
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Right about that Mike, everyone has a story and when they don't they will make one up, change words on posts to suit their own allegations or distort the facts to satisfy their own agenda and when that doesn't work find a few things in error and make it sound like it's the norm.
Is it any wonder that many of the people even here that are dealers stay at arms length in these debates. It's unfortunate as they have a wealth of information but frankly why get involved in the negative publicity that is sure to be forthcoming.
the even sadder part is the "uneducated" collector and who to believe. Until I stumbled across this place I had actually thought that the "breaking news" was something to embrace, While I may not necessarily appreciate Conway's "humor" at times I do know that there is absolutely nothing factual to the ROR post but had I not been a member here who knows what I might have believed.
therein lies the problem for those that expose forgers & their friends or very very very poor authenticators.
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yeah, but according to the Pogo's your a big time forger along with Herman and the anti-semite cyrkin. Epperson & Reznikoff are enemies of the state and so is anyone else who dares call out any of the klown posse. Then again, we also give them way to much ammunition and unfortunately some "self-imposed" exiles that ought to be here rather than becoming bank robbers ala patty hearst.
The "dealers" have essentially 3 choices; stay out of the frey all together, have a zero tolerance (which has a legal expense) or pick and choose their fight. Or perhaps a 4th ignore it (which I don't share) while having thick skin.
When they used a "conspirator" extortion with Sipe to fire mysinger it opened my eyes to how low they will go to try and embarass and ridicule others. When they publish personal information and the names and address of wifes & mothers amongst many other items it just goes to show anyone what lowlifes they, these pack of hyenas ,truly are.
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What's the name on this forum? If this were my situation, I wouldn't just let it go. You already have a history with this dummy and I wouldn't be afraid of calling his cowardness out today. Why do people get so worked up when they hear the words "sue you" or "sue me" when they are meaningless and baseless threats. I would love to be challenged in court by a guy whos case has no merit, foundation, or not a shread of truth. Can you say counter suit? Not only would you win, the whole community would see him in public and his face would on all forums under titled headlines of fraudster.
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