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Authenticity is Everything
Beware Toby Stoffa of Antiquities Las Vegas
I purchased a Rat Pack photo from her 10 years ago; signed by all 5. I proudly displayed it on the wall in my office. Recently I decided to get it authenticated. I brought it to JSA and they said it was fraudulent. She offered to take it back on consignment but refused to refund me the original purchase price of $ 2300.00; as she does not recognize JSA or PSA as authorities. She said I should send it to Col. Myron Ross who she purchased the piece from for authentication. I was not comfortable with that. She then suggested a gentleman who upon further research on the internet was referred to as"the authenticator of choice for fraudulent items" in an FBI sting that was done some years back.
I have been told by other dealers that any one item Rat Pack with all 5 signatures on it is about as rare as anything in the industry. They would be willing to pay many times what I paid for it; provided it was authentic. Unlike Toby they would be happy to accept a JSA or PSA certification. One must wonder why Toby Stoffa would not want to own this piece for $2300.00 when it is so valuable. One must also wonder how she acquires so many examples of such a rare piece as she currently has two more Rat Pack pieces on her web site with signatures of all 5. Maybe someone can ask her because I am prohibited from speaking with her. When I told her I was going to post a blog she hung up the phone on me. Within minutes a gentleman named Tom Moore; claiming to be her attorney called and told me if I posted anything he would file charges with the US Attorneys Office against me for extortion. It seemed unusual that the Caller ID was from the store. Perhaps the manner in which she conducts business requires her to have legal counsel on premises. I do not know. Anyway we chatted and he told me to go FU>>>K Myself. I turned the matter over to my attorneys. I am currently designing a web site to chronicle my ongoing situation with Toby. If anyone has a similar experience and would like to post it on my future site please contact me at Gubi38@Aol.Com. All submissions must be factual and will be verified by my attorneys before I can consider posting them. Also E-Mail if you would just like to share a story.
Tom
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Comment by Stephen Duncan on August 30, 2010 at 10:47am
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Another example of what is being sold in Las Vegas, needs to remain in Las Vegas.
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Appreciate your comment. Did not expect one so soon. I am an amateur collector. Obviously my situation is not unique
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Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 30, 2010 at 12:22pm
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Tom,
No need to set up a Web site. Feel free to have people discuss their factual comments and experiences on this site if you prefer. We kicked Myron Ross out of Autograph magazine years ago for selling forgeries, and the UACC kicked him out of their Registered Dealer program for the same reason.
Never heard he was a "Col." until Tobey's son, Brian, who runs Antiquities in San Francisco, told a customer that he was some sort of handwriting expert for the Army.
Toby said in one of her blog posts that her husband is a lawyer, so that may be who called you.
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Steve, Thank You . Although I am not well versed in this field; I have many years of business experience. I do not respond well to threats nor am I intimidated by them. I assume they employ these tactics to intimidate the average Joe. I chose your site after reading many blogs which were very informative. Toby also seems to respond to many of the blogs and I was hoping she would see it and respond. That is doubtful! Thanks again for giving me this forum.
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..."She then suggested a gentleman who upon further research on the internet was referred to as"the authenticator of choice for fraudulent items" in an FBI sting that was done some years back."...
Just a wild guess: That authenticator wouldn't happen to be Donald Frangipani would it? You may want to file a report with the Las Vegas Police Dept. and the FBI.
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Imagine that? She doesn’t except PSA or JSA… Gee I wonder , could that be because she CANNOT pay then off like she does one of the so-called “forensic experts” like Frangiapini? And Myron Ross? The same guy Banned for life from the UACC? The same Myron Ross that uses Donald “I’ll give anyone a COA for a price” Frangiapini ? Need we say more?
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Def contact the Las Vegas FBI Office
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Mike, Thank You for the advice. It did not occur to me that the FBI would have an interest. I will certainly give them a call and see if they care.
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Any update to this?
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I use to sell to her back in the early 1990, before there was any authentication services, problem with all of the Vegas stores selling autographs is they can't afford to pay for the real stuff, and not enough of it out there to handle turnover they need for store, if they get 1 thing authenticated, then everything would need a cert, everything I see in these shops is worthless, I buy only PSA, JSA, and Global post 2007, this is the only people Ebay allows certs from, no Frangipanni, Drew Max, Moralas, etc. I supply fund raisers in Ca. and I see so much fake crap out there, but Vegas has very little REAL stuff, from what I understand a lot comes from a well known forger who lives in Mexico, owes IRS a ton and is hiding out there, but this is just rumor his first name is Tony. Can't tell you how many horror stories I have heard from people burned by these stores, all about greed pay nothing, make the framing over the top to hide the fact the autograph is worthless.
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