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Mass Resignations, Lives Threatened as AFTAL is Hijacked During Behind the Scenes Forgery Investigation

Formed with the stated goal of stamping out fake autographs, AFTAL, the Autograph Fair Trade Alliance, attracted many of UK's and Europe's most reputable dealers as members. But while the vast majority of AFTAL dealers lived its stated goal, including a recognized expert used by law enforcement to testify against the forgery industry, AFTAL's two primary founders, Dominic Manning and Marc Mclennan, used it as cover to sell and authenticate thousands of forgeries. Manning has seized control of the organization after an AFTAL steering committee found that he sold hundreds of fake Michael Jackson autographs he claimed to have gotten in person. And like a mansion built on quicksand, AFTAL is crumbling.

As the legally listed head of AFTAL, Manning, owner of Behind the Scenes Autographs, disbanded the steering committee last week that was formed in December by boardmember Garry King after Manning and another boardmember were forced to resign. Manning then reportedly had AFTAL's lawyer slap a suppression order (gag order) on the former members of the committee, forbidding them to talk publicly about Manning's actions or their determination that the Michael Jacksons Manning sold were forgeries.

In the UK, even revealing that you are under a suppression order can have you held in contempt of court, so little information about it has come out and no public documents appear to be available. But the sudden silence of former steering members who used to speak to me confirms its existence in my mind.

Events have taken a violent turn. Several autograph dealers have reportedly been threatened by Manning or the source of the forgeries, Adrian Longden, and police reports have been filed. At least one victim is in fear of his life.

Roughly a third of AFTAL members have resigned or are in the process of doing so, and many more are anticipated to resign as they hear about the scandal.

Stay tuned for more. Autograph Magazine is preparing a list of current and former AFTAL dealers considered reputable. Please message me if you would like to be considered for this list.

For more details on AFTAL's actions and the Dominic Manning/Adrian Longden forgeries, read the following Autograph Magazine Live! discussions:

0 members like this

Comment by Gary Harvey on April 7, 2013 at 1:55pm: Hello Rick

Thanks for those comments, and I welcome your glowing backing.

I am not one of the Big UK Dealers here in the UK, I am only small time.

But I could tell you stories how some of these Big dealers here hate us little guys ! lol

Oh ! some of the underhand tricks and methods they use to Bully smaller people.

But

At the end of the day a Dealer Advertises he sells 100% Authentic signed items with a Full money back guarantee...Lifetime in fact

You kinda believe your safe

But it appears your not !

Apparently Roger Epperson's opinion is only good enough in America and the All over the World. But NOT in the UK

As I have stated here previously Roger Epperson is my friend and I value his opinion not only because of my friendship but I know he is good

I will advise people to contact him if they are unsure

My word on Authenticity is my Bond. I sell and will issue a refund if ever doubted, no matter who the expert is. I wish this was the case elsewhere

I see Steve C has still not shut this down ! So I guess it isn't gonna just die lol

Comment by Gary Harvey on April 7, 2013 at 1:57pm: Mick

Thanks for your comment of

A few AFTAL dealers Ive spoken to cant just leave as they have the AFTAL logo plastered all over their websites and ebay listings that will be VERO'd

Can you explain this ? Im totally unsure of the power of a club over its loyal members

How can this be so ?

Comment by Mick Taylor on April 8, 2013 at 4:23am: Gary,

AFTAL can VERO any item on ebay that displays their logo. They have "alledgedly" already done this to members who have left. This in turn effects their ability to sell on ebay. Some of these dealers have 1000's of listings carrying the logo which have to be individually edited which is very time consuming

Comment by Gary Harvey on April 10, 2013 at 3:07pm: Mick

Thanks for the update, Wow !

That's amazing. The power of these people. I hope the membership all realise this and take the time to edit their listings

I would personally put the hours in to make sure they did not get one over on me

I suppose the easy way out is just to let your membership lapse ?