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JSA, KSA Canada and AJ Sportsworld Sports Center Undercover Sting

Others have posted about this today but I wanted to share as well.

This report/video shows a reporter meet with an artist who creates 17 signatures on different photographs. The artist is not a forger and has never done this before. All 17 of the items are taken to three authenticators and all 17 are passed by all 3. JSA is the best known but KSA Canada and AJ Sportsworld also gave their blessing. This is disturbing for any collector. Many people count on the authenticators to get it right and this shows again how bad they can miss.

The video can be found at the following link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-p3rvzlDjI

The video description states "TSN teamed up with CTV's W5 to investigate the growing problem of fraud in the multi-billion dollar sports industry. In a three-part series, which I combined into one video, Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead looks at how fake autographed memorabilia, fake jerseys and fake tickets is authenticated and sold."

Tags: authentication, forgery, memorabilia, off, rip

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Permalink Reply by Keith Smith on February 24, 2015 at 12:02pm

Yes Chad that is the one. Since there seems to be a sensitivity towards using companies names etc on this site I chose to post it as a simple link and let others post their opinions. It is pretty bad indeed when these hacks cannot even get these guys right or even take the time to try.

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Permalink Reply by Chad B on February 24, 2015 at 12:26pm

Hey Keith,

I know what you mean about sensitivity but this is backed up by video evidence. I don't feel I am in the wrong in any way pointing out that in this case this collector (reporter acting as an innocent collector) was failed by the companies. If it was me, I'd feel ripped off. This is another warning to me that a sticker does nor make the signature authentic.

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Permalink Reply by Null on February 24, 2015 at 12:19pm

Love JSA's response: "We examine over 350,000 signatures a year, mistakes are made. However when JSA is made aware of such mistakes, all necessary steps are taken to resolve them." I bet they didn't give him his $120 back!

Exactly why I've never paid $1 for any "authenticator" to put stickers on my items.

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Permalink Reply by P. V. on March 6, 2015 at 11:52am

Exactly Ryan

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Permalink Reply by Dan Gregory on February 24, 2015 at 1:27pm

I only hope this goes across all news media and people get to see these companies for what they are.

Authenticators are good for the hobby to a degree. However, when they mass authenticate and pass forgeries in huge numbers they ruin the hobby more than they help it and it's getting worse.

I am getting sick of seeing sellers happy to pay a few hundred bucks who get each and every forgery given a sticker and then the amateur collectors who see a sticker assume it's real and the cycle goes on.

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on February 24, 2015 at 1:52pm

Didn't JSA get busted doing the exact same thing in a news special a few years ago? Seems they didn't fix the problem then, why would we believe they're going to fix it now.

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Permalink Reply by Null on February 24, 2015 at 2:09pm

Yes Mike, I do recall this video. They were busted doing essentially the same thing. A person "snuck in" forgeries of the athlete that was doing a signing at a show, JSA was there "authenticating" everything this person signed and certed the forgeries without hesitation.