Here in this thread I am going to show various examples of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries listed and sold on Ebay with COAs from Steve Rocchi, lead "authenticator" for Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (GFA).
What is really sad, is that thousands of our military personnel got ripped off buying this garbage from the AAFES website. I bet a ton of them got them at cheap prices and looked at them as an investment. This crap is pure garbage.
Please note that in the 5 1/2 years since GFA started, I have yet to see even one authentic Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, etc. autograph with a GFA (Rocchi) COA.
It is now 2021 and we have yet to observe an authentic autograph attached to a GFA (Rocchi) COA.
Before I show the aforementioned, immediately below are links to two important threads on Stephen Rocchi and Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (GFA).
There have also been a ton of Mantle/Koufax forgeries on baseballs.
All laughable.
In my opinion, forgeries are at an all-time high on Ebay.
The main reason that forgeries are at an all-time high is because they are an easy sell, especially on Ebay.
As most of us here know, forgeries are meant to have the appearance of looking authentic, and of the people that purchase autographs, only 20% are the true hobby; the other 80% are fans, wannabe autograph collectors and impulse buyers.
Sellers of forgeries know that the 80% will bid and purchase their forgeries.
Those 80% who purchase forgeries, have no idea what they are looking at.
As a matter of fact, those same people who buy forgeries probably purchase authentic autographs by chance and they still have no idea what they are looking at.
Selling forgeries on Ebay is easy, because, as we all know, Ebay does not care, and that's why fraud is so rampant on Ebay.
Throw in a few lies, print an impressive COA and it's an easy sell for the sellers of forgeries.
In this case, the "impressive" COA is from Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (Steve Rocchi).
The people who buy forgeries with COAs from Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators are impressed and swayed by the "Forensic" aspect of the GFA COA.
Those 80% who purchase autographs/forgeries, have no idea what they are looking at.
Selling forgeries on Ebay is easy, because as we all know, Ebay does not care, and that's why fraud is so rampant on Ebay.
First we're going to look at numerous Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries listed and sold by Ebay seller Coinfinder58.
Ebay seller Coinfinder58 writes "As of September of 2011, the sports memorabilia authentication companies have used collectors and dealers as their authenticators. These authenticators highly respected in the industry have for their collecting and selling expertise have had little or no formal training in forensics and document examination. Stephen’s background in law enforcement along with his years of experience in authentication, working with well trained forensic and document examiners, combined with today’s latest technology can produce consistent scientific proof that signatures are authentic or counterfeit."
Now that's laughable and a bad freakin' joke!!!
Just like the "autographs" below; all are laughable.
Let's look at some examples of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries on various images listed/sold by Ebay seller Coinfinder58 and other Ebay sellers with COAs from Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (GFA).
Let's make one thing clear: These are obvious and no-brainer forgeries.
Look at all of this crap!!!
It's now 2021 and I still have not observed one authentic Mantle, Williams, DiMaggio, Koufax, etc, with a worthless COA from GFA.
The majority of this crap (the photos) are not even hand-signed. They are basically copies produced on inkjet paper.
This "lipstick on a pig" set of forgeries is basically a copy of forgeries produced (copied) on inkjet paper.
These are basically copies of forgeries produced on inkjet paper.
In other words, worthless pieces of paper.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/122282180381?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Autograph-8x10-Photo-NY-Yank...
Listed by Ebay seller Jilliamereck0.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Joe-DiMaggio-Signed-8x10-Phot...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-HOF-AUTOGRAPH-SIGNED-8X10-PHO...
Listed by EBay seller Kona20122012.
Another set of mass-produced forgeries of Mantle and & DiMaggio.
Not even hand-penned; produced by a machine.
This "Showcase" crap has also been sold by AtAuction.com, Ubid.com and Military Exchange Auctions (selling forgeries to our brave military people).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Joe-DiMaggio-Autographed-Pins...
Typical "lipstick on a pig" that we see on Ebay, AtAuction, Ubid and Military Exchange Auctions.
Machine-penned forgeries dressed up in cheap matting and framing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPH-GFA-HOLO-COA-CARD-S...
Listed by Ebay seller Carddood.
How many hundreds of times have we seen the below image with laughable forgeries of Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams with a worthless COA from Stephen Rocchi and his Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators group.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Ted-Williams-SIGNED-11-x-14-P...
This forged Mickey Mantle baseball is listed by Ebay seller Fireprobatman.
The moron who forged this Mantle penned on a "1994 World Series" baseball.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPHED-OML-BASEBALL-YANK...
Here's a forged Mickey Mantle cap with a worthless COA from GFA.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPHED-BASEBALL-HAT-WITH...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joe-Dimaggio-Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Phot...
Typical set of Mantle/DiMaggio forgeries with a worthless COA from GFA.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/122223792559?ul_noapp=true
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-7-Ted-Williams-9-Signed-Autog...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Autograph-GFA-/15...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ted-Williams-Micky-Mantle-co-Hand-signed-8x...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/mickey-mantle-ted-Williams-o-signed-8x10-GF...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-Duke-Snider-Autog...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-York-Yankees-Legends-Mickey-Mantle-Joe-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NY-Yankees-HOF-CF-Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8-x-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-Autographed-8x10-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Auto-8x10-Photo-COA-/16225146...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-8x10-Black-and-White-Auto-Pho...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-SANDY-KOUFAX-DOUBLE-SIGNED-AU...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/mickey-mantle-autographed-photo-/262668360403?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291905104178?euid=1e690db42edb4456bf460d360...
This one is listed by Ebay seller Damiamoble-0.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/autographed-mickey-mantle-photo-with-certif...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-Mickey-Mantle-Autographed-by-Mickey-Ra...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joe-DiMaggio-and-Mickey-Mantle-Yankee-Legen...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Whitey-Ford-4x5autographed-ph...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/262631896377?euid=0303c7dd991e4ba2984254099...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201667182793?euid=3e448c043a684722adc245178...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ted-Williams-and-Mickey-Mantle-signed-photo...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Yankees-8x10-Photo-Autograph-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUY-THE-MICKEY-MANTLE-GET-A-FREE-WILLIE-MAY...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOGRAPHED-MANTLE-DIMAGGIO-WILLIAMS-5-7-9-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPH-PHOTO-BLACK-WHITE-H...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-COLOR-PHOTO-AUTOGRAPH-HOF-COA...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPH-8x10-Photo-COA-FREE...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joe-DiMaggio-and-Mickey-Mantle-Autographed-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-and-Willie-Mays-autographed-M...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOGRAPHED-Mickey-Mantle-Ted-Williams-8-X-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Photo-Autographed...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-8x10-Autographed-Photo-GFA-Au...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joe-DiMaggio-and-Mickey-Mantle-autographed-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOF-Mickey-Mantle-autographed-photo-with-GF...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Photo-w-GFA-Certi...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRAMED-GFA-CERTIFIED-TED-WILLIAMS-MICKEY-MA...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILLIE-MAYS-MICKEY-MANTLE-JOE-DiMAGGIO-DUKE...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Ted-Williams-Dual-Signed-8x10...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Joe-DiMaggio-Signed-8x10-Phot...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Autograph-8x10-Photo-GFA-Cert...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mantle-Dimaggio-Martin-Ford-Autograph-8x10-...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-WHITEY-FORD-SIGNED-8X10-PHOTO...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GFA-Certified-500-Home-Run-Club-Hitters-Aut...
Mickey Mantle forgery sold by Ebay seller Lorbarr0 for a whopping $45.00 with worthless COA from GFA (Stephen Rocchi).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/mickey-mantle-Autograph-Photo-With-COA-/322...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GFA-Certified-Mickey-Mantle-Joe-Dimaggio-Te...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-Autograph-8x10-Ha...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joe-Dimaggio-Autograph-8x10-Photo-GFA-Certi...
Ebay seller Jem-properties is selling Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron forgeries with a worthless COA from Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-HANK-ARRON-AUTOGRAPHED-FRAMED...
The Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Duke Snider forgeries below are listed by Ebay seller Mccauleyjr2006.
I've posted a few threads on Ebay seller Mccauleyjr2006 who has sold dozens of GFA certed forgeries.
http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/3524372:Topic:613578...
http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/mickey-mantle-joe-di...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-D-Snider-Autograp...
The below Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries with a COA from GFA are listed/sold by Ebay seller Pan4life14.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Joe-Dimaggio-signed-authentic...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Whitey-Ford-signed-authentic-...
The below Mickey Mantle/Ted Williams forgeries are listed by Ebay seller Rmghobbies.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-TED-WILLIAMS-AUTOGRAPHED-FRAM...
Here's another image that contains Mickey Mantle/Ted Williams forgeries.
These are listed by Ebay seller Garri_bren.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Autographed-picture-of-Tedd-Williams-and-Mi...
Here's another example of a Mickey Mantle forgery certed by Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (Steve Rocchi).
The below Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller Salci_jewelry_watches.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Autographed-Signed-Mickey-Mantle-Photo-Plaq...
These Mickey Mantle forgeries are listed by Ebay seller Ginah1103.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Autographed-Framed-Picture-CO...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Autographed-Framed-Picture-CO...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Autographed-Framed-Picture-CO...
The below Mickey Mantle & Ted Williams forgeries are listed by Ebay seller Sportsstuff87.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Ted-Williams-Dual-Signed-8x10...
These Mickey Mantle forgeries are listed by Ebay seller Rbisportsinc.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Photo-Autographed...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Photo-Autographed...
The below Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by EBay seller JoeJohn2300.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-NEW-YORK-YANKEES-CUSTOM-FRAME...
The below Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller Joeylpa.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPH-PHOTO-COA-/28163398...
Here's another image that contains Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays forgeries with a COA from GFA (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators).
The below Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays forgeries are listed by Ebay seller Westerntraders2020.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-Autograph-8x10-Ha...
The below image which contains a Mickey Mantle forgery "certed" by Steve Rocchi and GFA, is listed by EBay seller Init43.
The below image with that Mantle forgery has been "authenticated" by all of the phoney authenticators like Ted Taylor, Drew Max, GAI, etc.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-No-7-SIGNED-AUTOGRAPHED-GFA-D...
Check out this set of Mickey Mantle and Jo DiMaggio forgeries listed by Ebay seller Stevew6.
These are simply putrid and obvious forgeries, and of course, these forgeries come with a COA from Steve Rocchi (GFA).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-MantleJoe-Dimaggio-Autographed-8x10-...
The below Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller Bgbhbgbh.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-York-Yankee-Great-Mickey-Mantle-Framed-...
Here's another image of Mickey Mantle with a GFA-certed Mickey Mantle forgery.
This Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller Lenbone8464.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/mickey-mantle-autograph-photo-display-glass...
Here's another example of a Mickey Mantle forgery "authenticated" by Steve Rocchi of Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators.
The below Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller Roccsoliddealsnsteals.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-8x10-Autograph-Auto-Au...
This set of Mickey Mantle, Duke Snider and Willie Mays forgeries is listed by Ebay seller Jtuya with a worthless COA from Guaranteed Forensic Authentics (also known Guaranteed Fake Autographs).
This, again, is the same crap (forgeries) John House, CEO of AtAuction has been selling for years.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Certified-Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-Duke-Sn...
The below Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams forgeries on that particular image is listed by Ebay seller Bluto.
The below Mantle and Williams forgeries on that image have been "authenticated (cough, cough)" by GFA (Guaranteed Fake Autographs/Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators), GAI (Mike Baker), Ted Taylor (TTA/Stat Authentic), Drew Max (Authentic Autographs Unlimited), etc.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUO-MICKEY-MANTLE-AND-TED-WILLIAMS-Autograp...
The above "Mickey Mantle," "Joe DiMaggio," etc. signatures are all obvious and no-brainer forgeries.
I will be adding more images that contain GFA (Steve Rocchi) certed forgeries of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.
The above forgeries have been selling for the last five years on the websites AtAuction.com (John House, CEO), Ubid.com and the Military Exchange Auction.
That's another story for another day (very soon).
The below Mickey Mantle/Ted Williams forgeries sold by the Military Exchange Auction website.
http://military.exchangeauctions.com/iSynApp/SportsMemorabilia-auct...
Tags: Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators Signed Forged Mickey Mantle Photo
I hear ya Keith. I share in your pain and apathy. It is all really quite amusing.
Heck, I stopped collecting because of it all and feel like you do much of the time. I don't think it's really the job of this site or any site for that matter to clean up the mess. I don't think anyone is trying to be a super hero here. I think it's mostly just a platform for collectors to share info. I do it because when I first started buying fakes, there wasn't anywhere like this site to go in search of answers.
All I wanted to do was to put a few pictures on my home office wall and it turned into this...LOL.
While there were 10's of thousands of items signed by Mantle, DiMaggio & Williams in their hey day, many authentic items remain in personal collections like mine. As a non-collector , I have 25 signed photo's of Mantle & 10 balls. LOL 12 DiMaggio Photos and 6 balls. 6 Williams Photos and 6 balls. You get the picture. While there are still many for sale on a daily basis, very few authentic items actually pass hands compared to the amount of forgeries. Keep in mind that Mantle's family claims that 90% of all his Autographs that are sold today are indeed just that, forgeries. There is an obvious demand for that framed Mantle photo @ less than $100.00, if you "Compare @ $899.00" LOLOLO That's how it has continued to thrive.
Even the best of experts or authenticators get it wrong sometime, as we know. It's the dealer & authenticators that admit their mistakes that garner the most respect and those are few and far in between. This thread alone has done a lot to shed some light on the inherent problems and animosity that still remains in the hobby in general going back to the 1980's and 90's.
I enjoyed trying to get my point across and I'm sure it was cathartic for Tony Podsada as well. Collectors will just have to continue do the work and they can come to their own conclusions. Don't tke my word for it.
Much like you Keith, law enforcement obviously doesn't give a damn either. LOL. We know you care a little bit or you wouldn't have posted, so thanks again for sharing.
Keith Smith,
Strange contribution you made. You recognize the massive fraud, and you chide these guys for not being able to put an end to it? They don't have the power to stop the crooks. The prosecutors have the power, but they are doing almost nothing.
Good guys complain about the crooks. I respect them for caring. Do you care?
Scott, this thread is dedicated to GFA certed forgeries.
I'd like to know what courts qualify all these guys from Global Forensic Authenticators. Because as all professional Forensic Document Examiners know, you need to be court qualified (many times over) in order to be considered a trusted FDE in any area of expertise.
Secondly it has always been a major CONFLICT OF INTEREST when "Authenticators" OR "Forensic Document Examiners" sell the autographs they give opinions on. So I automatically wouldn't trust buying ANYTHING from those two groups who give opinions on the items THEY ARE SELLING!!!
So now it's YOUR JOB to prove to everyone why I'm wrong. The ball is in your court: Carlos, Steve Rocchi, and whomever else if working for GFA as experts. I don't get into unwarranted personal attacks AT ALL, so I expect you to do the same.
James McCay
Forensic Document Examiner since 1999 ONLY FOR FREE to help this hobby's future.
BTW- I saw a few of those Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams "autographed" trios in myv day and I wouldn't have said ONE was authentic.
I even busted my own father for selling Muhammad Ali autograph FORGERIES obtained in North NJ from his friend John in 1998. My father had a stack of (50) of so Ali autographs that all looked like they were signed in the 1980's (they were that good), yet John sold them to my father for $30.00 each!!! I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THEY WERE FORGERIES BY THE PRICE ALONE! My father was too greedy/ignorant to see that.
So I told my own father- "Either return EVERY Ali autograph or any autographs obtained from John" and his partner Chuck Wepner (boxer busted more than once for selling cocaine, then started selling Ali forgeries with John OLSEN in the 1990's or before) or I'll report you to the FBI (Operation Bullpen) as if I didn't know you.". I DO NOT OUT UP WITH FOGERY SELLERS NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. We as decent, honorable human beings have to chose our wars and I chose mine in 1992 (fighting sports card fraud for free) which expanded to autographs in 1998.
When Olsen and Wepner were busted a few years ago I was not surprised in the least bit, what shocked me is how long it took when it took me all of 5-minutes to know they were forgeries! Are other people that stupid/ignorant??? Or are they just that greedy? Then the slaps on the wrists both these scumbags got was even worse...
James
Great story James...
"When Olsen and Wepner were busted a few years ago I was not surprised in the least bit, what shocked me is how long it took when it took me all of 5-minutes to know they were forgeries! Are other people that stupid/ignorant??? Or are they just that greedy?"
Yes, people are THAT stupid AND GREEDY. One Look at the Podsada/GFA Fakes and you can tell they are forgeries Immediately. It doesn't even take 5 minutes. LOL. Upon inspection of a fabulously framed fake "Compare at 1,399.00 MSRP", one can see the forgery close up and the media it is on is just astounding how cheap the whole thing is. They are selling most of these garbage pieces: 10 forgeries-1 authentic on e-bay at any given time for 100-150.00. A true scam and good work it you can get it..If you have NO morals whatsoever that is.
When the Nicholas Burczyk certed Mickey Mantle forgeries first hit Ebay (first seen over at AtAuction.com), I knew in a millisecond they were forgeries. They were, and are still, laughable and pathetic forgeries.
Only the scammers/ignorant/morons buy that crap.
Then came along the Drew Max, Ted Taylor and Chris Morales certed Mickey Mantle forgeries sold by John House and his company AtAuction.
Again, laughable and pathetic forgeries that only the scammers/ignorant/morons bought and sold.
Then came along Stephen Rocchi (Sept. 2011) and GFA (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators) when he started certing the same Mickey mantle forgeries for John House and his company AtAuction.
Again, laughable and pathetic forgeries that only the scammers/ignorant/morons bought and sold.
This scam has continued for approximately five years now.
Anyone who defends that crap is part of the scam.
Here's Ebay seller Mccauleyjr2006 selling yet another set of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries.
It's amazing that "The Mick" passed away almost twenty years ago and yet the crap certed by Steve Rocchi is always in pristine condition. Yeah right.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-and-Joe-Dimaggio-Dual-Autogra...
obviously fake, but I'd say Mickey is getting better of late at signing his name. Still cartoonish though. If you could only fix the "ick" (ecspecially the c) The interation between the M and a, which you have been working on for some time is still a complete joke. Your "n" is getting better too Mick and the "tle" and other than the baseline being totally off, I'd say your almost there. ATTN: ALL JACKMEHOFFS~Compare at $2,399.00 MSRP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Keep up the good work Tony P! And GFA. Two names you can trust.
You're right on that one, Fudd.
The "machine" used to "produce" those autographs has probably been calibrated at least a thousand times...
But, it's still an obvious forgery
The cheap framing, etc (like the one being sold by Ebay seller Mccauleyjr2006) is all "Lipstick On A Pig."
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