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Signature Authentication/Forgery defrauder

Greetings. My name is Kelly Wilkins. I am a forensic document examiner/handwriting analyst/expert and an avid collector of autographs, myself. But, I go to horror movie conventions to meet my "heroes", and it dawned on me. Now that I am certified, why not use this for my benefit. I have met with managers and the actors themselves as well as other avid collectors and have started to add signature authentication to my services. Now, this is why I am contacting you. Since this is a subject very near and dear to my heart both professionally and personally, I am reaching out to other autograph collectors of the world letting you know that you can contact me if you have a questioned signature or signatures you need authenticated.My office number is 281-417-8801 and my email address is kelly@houstondocumentexaminer.com I would love to talk to someone who runs this website/magazine and setup a 'deal'.

Anyway, this past year at my favorite horror movie convention, Texas Frightmare Weekend, I was in line for Angus Scrimm (The Tallman from Phantasm), and I caught something that will forever make me think this is something I am meant to be doing. While in line, someone was trying to sell Kim Henkel's autograph. Well, knowing that Kim Henkel doesn't go to conventions, like to be around large groups of people, and rarely signs anything, I asked to take a look at it. Being a Forensic Document Examiner, I looked with great scrutiny. Things didn't add up, so, I asked my office to fax me a copy of the signed dvd cover I have of the 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I didn't let the offender know what I was up to, but when I got the txt message that I received a new fax, I compared. First off the bat, the size, the slant, and furthermore, the name was clearly spelled out. I then pulled out my card, told the gentleman that he was busted. The cops that were there came after the man started making a scene. I gave the cops my ID, my card, and told them what I did for a living, and that the gentleman was selling forged signatures. The offender was adamant that he was selling rare pieces. The police searched his bag and found a receipt with his name signed. I compared the signature and matched the handwriting on the forged content to his own and his wife's signatures. They were arrested on the spot. In his bag, he had 114 forged signatures he was selling off.

Anyway, I hate to hear that people do this. I am glad that I can do my part to help end this. I know good people spend a great sum of money, and if I can do my part to make sure they're getting what they paid for, then, I am doing my part in the world.
Thanks

Kelly Wilkins, FDE

Tags: analysis, document, examination, forensic, forgery, handwriting

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Comment by CJCollector on June 20, 2011 at 6:30am: Kelly, below is a photo of a typed-letter signed by General George Patton. What would be your fees/rate to examine that signature? Where would you acquire original exemplars to complete your examination? Thank you.

Comment by Kelly Wilkins on June 20, 2011 at 6:41am: I would contact museums. I would start with museums. Houston has one of the greatest museums in the world, but if they do not have any of the documents I require, then I would contact the Smithsonian. My fees are on my website listed above. I would prefer not to do historical pieces because of the lack of readily made exemplars. Is there a date that this was allegedly typed and signed by GS Patton? Do you have the handwriting of anyone else that was involved in this?

If you're trying to "test" me, I need more facts. If you want to hire me, contact me at my information above.

Comment by CJCollector on June 20, 2011 at 6:54am: Kelly, all I see are your phone number and email address. Can you please post the actual website. Thank you.

Comment by Kelly Wilkins on June 20, 2011 at 6:55am: my email is kelly@houstondocumentexaminer.com. My website is.. www.houstondocumentexaminer.com ;)

Comment by CJCollector on June 20, 2011 at 7:03am: Thank you, Kelly.

Comment by CJCollector on June 20, 2011 at 7:09am: Kelly, if I wanted you to examine the below signed baseball containing the signatures of thirteen Presidents, please give us a breakdown of your fees/rates to examine the below baseball. The baseball contains 13 of our last 14 Presidents. Your breakdown of your rates charged would be a big help to all of us here. I appreciate it.

Comment by CJCollector on June 20, 2011 at 7:11am: Kelly, I do want to make one thing clear, and that is that I am not giving you the third-degree (for lack of a better term), I'm trying to get a feel for what a real FDE charges for their services. Thank you.

Comment by Kelly Wilkins on June 20, 2011 at 7:13am: That would be a very expensive process. I would charge on a per signature basis. Because they are signed through out different times, they would have to be analyzed differently.

Once again, I will direct all questions regarding pricing to my website. http://www.houstondocumentexaminer.com I have detailed my fee schedule there.

Comment by CJCollector on June 20, 2011 at 7:17am: So, in other words, there is no way you could charge a flat fee of $75.00 to examine the below 13 signatures on the below baseball.

Comment by Kelly Wilkins on June 20, 2011 at 7:32am: no. anyone who does isn't providing an accurate testing method. To analyze the ink samples, the baseball core, then verify every signature (measure size, slant, ductus, pressure, etc), is a very time consuming process. You see, I don't just match up signatures to each other. Any skilled tracer can do so. For a TRUE document examination, you have to be able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt any and all aspects of the document and/or signature is in fact a forgery. I know this goes against what some of you believe, but the facts are the facts. Think of it this way. the ink used in a sharpie marker was first used in 1960 with the first official sharpie marker being introduced in 64.. For all intends and purposes, with a basic chromatography test, you find that a sharpie was used to ink a signature in 1955. See, there's the first sense of doubt. A Chromatography test can cost upwards of $2000, depending on the lab. I have seen a test alone cost $3500. So, if you want a complete analysis, the tests have to be performed.

That being said, I am all about making deals and try to make everything as cost efficient as possible. I could, without chemical/ink/age testing, charge a flat rate, but as a professional, I wouldn't be doing a complete job. A good tracer can fool basic measurement testing.

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