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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 28, 2011 at 2:10am: Bill, I am quite aware of the fact that the Bonnie & Clyde cut signatures are horrific to say the least.

As a matter of fact, back in the winter of 2009 I did a video on the first Bonnie & Clyde dual signatures offered by Coach's Corner. I have maintained contact with a Bonnie & Clyde historian since then.

There is a reason behind everything I do, Bill. I know I don't need a "test" to discover that those Bonnie & Clyde cut sigs "are the worst pieces...."

Anyone who remembers the dual-signed Bonnie & Clyde video I did back in Dec. 2009, will remember that Stat Authentic (Ted Taylor) "certed" the Clyde Barrow but not the Bonnie Parker cut signature, but yet CC listed them on their auction site (if you want to call it that) as dual-signatures.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on June 30, 2011 at 4:40pm: Sounds to me like a proper forensic document exam may likely include tests that alter or destroy part of the ink or substrate. Is this presumption correct? If so, how realistic is it to conduct a FDE on memorabilia?

Comment by Kelly Wilkins on June 30, 2011 at 8:25pm: It could very well if done improperly.

Comment by David K on July 2, 2011 at 11:12pm: Hello

I know nothing of These vintage signatures/but if yo uwant to make a great bust...ALL the ELTON JOHN autographs 99.5% on ebay are FAKES... they are really BAD forgeries...and of course ALL the Bob Dylan's on EBAY are fake.. ALL of them...unless someone has listed one of his sigend haro nicas he was selling for only a mere 5,000 a pop on his web site.

Comment by James R. Altmann on July 3, 2011 at 3:46am: Well David, you would be wrong about that. The Bob Dylan signed "Times They Are..." LP, signed "Love & Theft" CD, the signed harmonica, and the unsigned but handwritten setlist are all authentic. I agree they are few and far between, but the good ones are out there if you know what you are looking at....and you have the dough to spend on them.

Comment by David K on July 3, 2011 at 4:14am: I have to have another look at the Dylans. on ebay..I saw the UNSIGNED set list... and YES--I saw the 5,500 listed TIMES LP..my mistake--that appears authentic. I didn ot see a Love and Theft CD listed ..just looked.....VERY hard to know what;s real...I know definitvely what his graph looked like from 1993 through today..prior to 93....??? I have a really rare Dylan signed item..I have to post for authentication...99% suer it is real..a signed mandolin...(signed on tbe back-signed in 1995 in new mexico..he inscribed it..so the lettering can be authenticated Wrote in tiny letters in a thin flair (yes flair not sharpie) pen"To Chris and Judy Good luck in your marriage plans--Best..bob DYlan...."

Comment by Steve Zarelli on July 5, 2011 at 8:35am: Would you please restate the question for the fourth time?

lol ;-)

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 5, 2011 at 10:15am: Greg,

I'd love the answer to your question asking how to tell which stroke is on top. I imagine that you might see ink build-up as the pen begins to cross the first stroke, or smearing of the edge of the first stroke as the overlapping one crosses it, but it may take a stereoscope and adjustable lighting to see it.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on July 5, 2011 at 10:21am: In my experience, most pens (ballpoint and marker) exhibit some streaking. I can usually tell which line lays on top by the direction of the streaking.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 5, 2011 at 10:35am: Mr. Zip, please look at the "t" in these Mantles and tell me if you can see streaking or other signs that definitely tell you what's on top:

http://live.autographmagazine.com/photo/albums/soldier-in-afghanist...

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