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Antiquities Caesars Palace, GFA/Stephen Rocchi and AAU/Drew Max Sued for Autograph Fraud

According to the Courthouse News Service, Mr. Daniel Odobas has filed a lawsuit against Antiquities Of Nevada (Toby Stoffa), Drew Max (Authentic Autographs Unlimited) and Stephen Rocchi (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators for "Fraud, Deceptive, Trade, Misrepresentation, Unjust Enrichment, Conspiracy, Bad Faith, Breach Of Contract and Breach Of Warranty."

Immediately below are links to the story.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/08/30/vegas-memorabilia-house-ac...

http://www.inquisitr.com/3472565/vegas-antiques-and-memorabilia-dea...

In my opinion, this was a long time coming.

Drew Max of Authentic Autographs Unlimited, gives himself the title of Forensic Document Examiner (FDE).

What in the world does "Forensics" have anything to do with autographs?

Very, very rarely in my opinion.

I don't know of any Forensic Document Examiner who knows sports or music autographs

It is also important to know that COAs and LOAs issued by Forensic Document Examiners or by authentication companies that use them, are much less likely to be genuine.

I have yet to see an authentic autograph of Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams with a COA from Drew Max (AAU).

Not one.

Just below is a link to a thread I wrote on Drew Max and one of his performances on the Pawn Stores show as he Forensically Examined an FDR "Letter To Clergy."

http://live.autographmagazine.com/profiles/blogs/drew-max-forensic-...

Then, of course, there is Stephen Rocchi and his Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (GFA) group.

In the six years since Rocchi started GFA, I have yet to see one authentic Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio autograph with a COA from GFA (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators).

Also, since when does a Forensic Examination only cost $25.00?

Rocchi does all of the below for $25.00 and still can't get it right.

From Rocchi's website. Seriously?

You do not need "Forensics" to determine if an autograph is authentic or not.

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/ebay-mantle-dimaggio...

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/joe-dimaggio-forgeri...

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/roger-maris-forgerie...

Just below is a typical Mickey Mantle forgery on a baseball with a COA from Stephen Rocchi and Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators.

It can be opined in less than one second as a forgery.

What is Rocchi thinking when he issues a COA for the below Mantle forgery?

Rocchi (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators) has certed dozens of the below set of Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris forgeries on a reproduced Safe At Home poster.

A real authenticator would laugh and dismiss this garbage in a millisecond, but Rocchi has certed dozens of these as authentic.

These are, at best, laughable.

When will all of this "Forensic" madness finally end?

Tags: aau, antiquities, caesars palace, drew max, forgeries, fraud, gfa, lawsuit, pawn stars, rocchi, More…toby stoffa

9 members like this

Comment by Adam Halloran on January 5, 2018 at 4:03pm: As I said, the only way to combat the forgery industry is education. The only way to not be a victim is to not let yourself be victimized.

The world has and always will consist of criminals and con artists. There has to be ownership involved in the decisions we make and learn from it, it stinks these crooks are out there, but as long as you are of sound mind and didn't have a gun to your head then you have to take ownership. A college education can cost you a fortune but street smarts will only cost what you are willing to lose.

Comment by CJCollector on January 5, 2018 at 4:08pm: That "education" will never happen.

Casual collectors and impulse buyers are what they are and the sellers of forgeries know it.

Why do you think there are thousands upon thousands of GFA-certed forgeries in the market-place (not the true-hobby market-place).

Comment by CJCollector on January 5, 2018 at 4:12pm: All of the "Forensic" BS goes a long way with the casual collector and impulse buyer.

They equate "Forensics" with NCIS.

Comment by Richard S. Simon on January 5, 2018 at 4:16pm: "I wonder if the L.A. Woman LP is an original U.S. issue. Morrison was in France at the time of its release, and passed away two and a half months later."

I would bet the forger got that wrong. That is one of the ways that these people get tripped up. Like the Florida forgers using computer photo paper that was manufactured after the signer died.

Comment by Adam Halloran on January 5, 2018 at 4:31pm: I think you miss my point. The education is, they either do the research and put the time in (as we do here) ask the questions and get the opinions. Study the graphs etc.. There are those who have been saved by google and finding this site before they made their mistakes.. Not all novices are lost.we can only help those who want it or seek it.

...Or you get that education the other way, from your check book and figure it out after you have become the victim. In any case it is an education all the same. There has to be tough love involved, the learning curve is all dependent and as costly as the time you put in to it.

That is why I said you will never defeat the forgers, you can only help those who want the education.

Comment by CJCollector on January 5, 2018 at 4:33pm: Adam, I didn't miss your point.

Those impulse buyers and casual collectors (who purchase the majority of autographs) will never do that.

The newbie who decides, because of desire, to learn autographs, will do that. That newbie will get burned a few times, but they will do their research and ask questions.

Comment by Ian Baldock on January 5, 2018 at 4:40pm: Autographs are a tough thing for the average person. The top authenticaters in the world make mistakes. Look at all the trouble people have with Mantle alone (including me).Forgers have been around for hundreds of years (diaries,bibles,artwork,religious artifacts (shroud of turin). Hmm parenthesis in parenthesis,thats a new one.

Comment by Adam Halloran on January 5, 2018 at 4:43pm: That is the thing. You will always have scammers and you will always have the naive. You can only help those who want to be helped or can help themselves.

Comment by Don Webster on January 5, 2018 at 4:49pm: I have known Toby Stoffa (Antiquities owner) for probably close to 20 years now. We are not friends but we have had some discussions over the years. I've also come to know some of her staff. I have never been under any illusion about the product she was selling. I am surprised that she has lasted this long and has apparently survived a major assault on her business.

I suggest she is fully prepared for these kinds of customer complaints. I believe she has a path to follow in dealing with the doubting & disgruntled customers.

She has had plenty of practice. But obviously for her to give a refund is a major loss for her. When she solicits your business it's her job to determine what you might like - who are your favourites? Then the hard sell begins - things can be put "on sale" in the blink of an eye to ensure that you don't walk away. And why not? She is selling mostly worthless material - she owns the frame shop where the items are prepared for presentation - it all fits. Sell baby sell.

And as one or two posters have suggested - things can be & are made-up and then presented to the potential customer IMO.

"You like Elvis - you won't believe what just arrived in our shop"!!

Made-to-order

So while this episode hurts her bank account in a huge way it's NOT the bottom line. Her bottom line is survival. She survived this and she is open tonight and the next "big fish" is about to walk through her door.

It is indeed sad.