Comment by BW Unlimited Chariy Fundraising on March 28, 2018 at 6:37am

This makes me sick.  I've been fighting these same people for years while attempting to educate charities about counterfeiters out there.  I come right and tell people the fact those two companies are the only ones you have those types of autographed items is a RED FLAG the size of the state of Texas.  You know, in my early days, I looked everywhere for the source because as you know, there is always a source.  Furthermore, if one company has something and its authenticated, many other memorabilia companies will have it also.  For years I looked and searched and found a few more counterfeiters and big buyers of counterfeit items who sell them at retail to unsuspecting buyers.  I sat down with Gene Simmons himself and showed him the counterfeited autographs - he said and I quote "Nope, that's not my signature."  It both amazes and kills me that these crooks are still out there defrauding charities.  I run a totally 100% legitimate business with my doors wide open for anyone to test my items.  Furthermore, if you look on our site and clearly identify myself in video, bio etc.  Why am I the only "Charity Auction Item Provider" who does this?  Have you noticed?  Go look...you don't know who runs those companies.  I read this last night and it killed me to know yet another person was scammed.  People get caught up in the glitz and glamour of what it appears to be and that's it.  They aren't educated.  Well - I've been thinking about doing it for awhile, today's the day.  I'm going to do a Video Blog now warning everyone - I just hope it gets out there and people start to listen for once.  Damn this p***** me off.

Comment by Bruce Juice on April 11, 2018 at 1:19pm

Here's another one from Charity Grow or whatever they are calling themselves now. Horrible Springsteen signed guitar with the forger's best friend's COA from RM Real.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/bruce-springsteen-signed-guitar/1732659282...

Comment by Gil Sainz on February 26, 2019 at 7:27pm

I attended a charity auction this weekend and had the winning bid on a Squire Guitar signed by all of the members of the Rolling Stones.

The item was purchased by the charity from 

http://www.buzzfile.com/business/Charity-Fundraising-Packages-201-4...

and authenticated by RM Real a retired NYPD detective. 

On Monday I submitted photographs to James Spence Authentication and within seconds determined it was fake.  It is rare everyone would sign with the same pen. That should be your first clue. 

They were also selling the Star Wars poster posted previously posted on this thread. I suspect that is also fake.

I returned the guitar to the charity and obtained a refund.  You have to wonder how many people buy things at these auctions and never check the authenticity.  

They probably have a BBB positive rating because they will refund your money for

any reason. I assume they bank on 99% of people

buying these items will take them home and mount them on the wall and

never question it.  It’s a numbers game

for the company.  I also attached photos they sent over of the authentication process.  I couldn’t figure out what he was authenticating since he didn’t even have a comparison signature to examine.  

Here is the response the charity received.

Thanks for the email. I am including Forensic Questioned Document Examiner, Detective Lieutenant Michael Ciravolo at RM Real on this email so the 2 of you can connect. Id you plug in the RM Real hologram number (located on the certificate of authenticity and on the neck of the guitar) into their database at https://rmreal.com/look-up-certificateit will show you what the item is, who signed it and the date of authentication. I have also attached to this email 13 photos of the Rolling Stonesguitars being authenticated in person by RM Real as proof of the authentication. Please see below...

 

Our company zero tolerance for counterfeits which is why we use the industry standard for the authentication of our autographed auction items and have them forensically examined by RM Real, an independent 3rd party authentication firm. 

 

All of our autographed items are forensically examined and tested by retired Law Enforcement from The New York Police Department to ensure authenticity, credibility and integrity. All autographed items come with a Certificate of Authenticity and counterfeit-proof authentication holograms from RM Real. A RM Real Certificate of Authenticity is respected and accepted at every major auction house in the world, including the worlds largest online auction site eBay. 

 

Forensic Questioned Document Examiner, Detective Lieutenant Michael Ciravolo at RM Real (who forensically examines and authenticates the signatures on all of our items) has been trained hands on in live forensic signature examination workshops by: 

 

1. Signature document examiners, handwriting analysts and experts who train the FBI, IRS, Department of Defense and the United States Secret Service forensic document examiners.

2. Board certified and court qualified forgery experts.

3. Museum curators.

4. Police officers.

 

Any questions regarding the authenticity of our items should be directed to Forensic Questioned Document Examiner, Detective Lieutenant Michael Ciravolo at RM Real who can be contacted directly at Mike@rmreal.com or 212-716-1050 or through their website at http://rmreal.com/   

 

Please review the additional details below...

 

Company Overview

• RM Real is comprised of over 80+ years of experience in law enforcement and questioned forensic document examination.
• RM Real is an independent third-party authentication firm that does not engage in the buying or selling of autographed collectibles. Their sole interest is examining handwriting and signatures to determine an items authenticity.
• The company's Forensic Questioned Document Examiner has a 40-year career as a decorated New York City Police Lieutenant and Commanding Officer where he supervised countless investigations into crimes involving forgeries.

Certificate Of Authenticity, Hologram Identifier & Online Registry

• All signatures are forensically examined in person (not by computer scan.)
  
• All items come with the RM Real Certificate of Authenticity. This document will bear the RM Real counterfeit-proof authentication hologram that includes a matching number on both the certificate and the item itself.
  
• After a thorough forensic examination of our autographed collectibles the Forensic Questioned Document Examiner of RM Real signs each certificate.
  
• All items that have a RM Real Certificate of Authenticity are downloaded into their database and customers can look up their specific item by the unique hologram identifier verifying the items authenticity in their online registry, located at http://rmreal.com/look-up-certificate

If you have any questions regarding authenticity please contact RM Real http://rmreal.com/ directly for additional information.

 

Thank you. 

P.S. - Mark Your Calendar NOW For: Tuesday, March 12 at 11am EST - Charity Fundraising Launches A Very Special Limited Edition  Charity Auction Item!

Charity Fundraising X Led Zeppelin 

- Most music critics consider Led Zeppelin to be one of the most successful, innovative, and influential rock groups in history. Charity Fundraising is pleased to present a "Led ZeppelinAutographed Limited Edition Charity Auction" Item onTuesday, March 12 at 11am EST. Only 50 are available in the world and all will be Sold-Out immediately on March 12.

-  Remember Mark Your Calendar: Tuesday, March 12 at 11am EST - Only 1 per charity, no exceptions. Advance reservations and information for "Charity Fundraising X Led Zeppelin" Exclusive Limited Edition charity auction item are not being accepted. Whitelist the email address of:news@cfr1.org in your email client to make sure you do not miss out! This amazing auction item launches live on: Tuesday, March 12 at 11am EST. Best of luck on your chance to reserve one!

 

--

Best Regards,

 

- John Dewey

 

Charity Fundraising Assistant

Email:  Assistant@cfr1.org

Website: http://www.cfr1.org/

 

Charity Fundraising has served over 10,000 charities, schools and non-profits, providing fundraising ideas and charity auction items to help them exceed all fundraising goals. Featured Fundraising Partners Include: Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The American Red Cross, The Junior League and numerous other non-profits. Review our current A+ Rating with The Better Business Bureau at: https://www.bbb.org/us/nj/fort-lee/profile/professional-fundraiser/...

Comment by Rick Meyer on February 26, 2019 at 7:47pm

Same old story just a new Forensic Document Examiner. That place is a joke. They just stealing money from people.

Comment by Bruce Juice on February 26, 2019 at 7:52pm

So many lies in their email to you.  RM Real COAs are not accepted by ANY major auction house much less all of them!  They pay the crooked ex-cop off to authenticate their stuff -- they should all be in jail. 

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on February 26, 2019 at 7:54pm

The more accurate title should be "Questioned Forensic Document Examiner."

Comment by BW Unlimited Chariy Fundraising on February 26, 2019 at 7:57pm

Omg this kills me.  If you notice, the examiner is surrounded by only their items and appears to be in their place of business.  Call your local newspaper and report this.  

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on February 26, 2019 at 8:03pm

You handled it perfectly Gil. Them all signing with the same pen is often not a telltale sign.

Having all the Stones autographs on the body of the guitar, with none on the pickguard, is a BIG warning sign. They're super-rare, and typically bring $15,000+.

The examiner had 4 on his desk alone. I'd be surprised if that many were offered for sale a year—plus yours!

Comment by Bob Asher on February 26, 2019 at 8:44pm

What is he looking for, what a scam, looks like another tony tramane special his stuff is all over Vegas, Toby has a ton of this crap

Comment by Sidney Fields on February 26, 2019 at 9:17pm

The company address listed on the BuzzFile site is a strip mall UPS Store.
CNBC used to be right across the street.

The "authenticator", Michael Ciravolo, retired from the NYPD.
He is still listed as an exec with widely known PI Bo Dietl's company.
Dietl recently ran for Mayor of NYC.

Ciravolo is the guy who "authenticated" a guitar signed by country legends in a charity auction piece done by Inside Edition a few years ago.
One of the signatures was from Tammy Wynette...who had died several years before the guitar was manufactured.

Nothing unusual about the way this charity fundraising operation seems to work: a steady stream of rare items and rarely - if ever - any verifiable provenance.

 

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