FBI: 70% of autographs sold Online are fake

[howboutthosemets]

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages ... 1.1&sflg=1


watch this, this makes you wonder.

[guilder1st]

Boy is this disturbing.

I know most things online or even with dealers at autograph shows are fakes, but jsa definitely lost it's credibility this way. Can't believe that dorkie guy just said: " I trust you" ,and assumed the autograph was authentic.

[whosurdaddy]

70% is no surprise, that figure has been out there since operation bullpen about 7 years ago. As far as James Spence that's no surprise either. He was with PSA DNA for years and their reputation is in the toilet.


More Bad News For JSA

(from AutographAlert.com) - Many autograph collectors and dealers are still talking about James Spence’s appearance on Fox News where Spence authenticated forged autographs as genuine. The autographs were forged by graphic artists at Fox News and when the autographs were brought to Spence’s office he convincingly told the reporter that an autograph was genuine but all the reasons why it was genuine. A most embarrassing moment for Spence and the authenticating trade.



Apparently Mr. Spence has not learned much about dealing with the news media. Earlier this week on Sunday, New York Channel 9 a similar report was aired at 10:30pm. The story ended up portraying Spence’s authenticating company in very bad light. James Spence had a booth at a local New Jersey sports show offering on-site authentication. A woman reporter went undercover and got an in person signature of Sal Bando. She then went outside with her camera crew and on a blank Bando photograph forged Bando’s name on it. They went and submitted the photo with the forged signature to JSA Authentication “Follow The Leader..”



The Spence authentication team only looked at the signature for a few seconds and determined the signature on the photograph was genuine. JSA also issued a certificate of authenticity for the signed photograph.



Bando was interviewed about this incident and expressed surprise that something like this could happen.



Mollie Ann Bricigliano promoter of the show was also interviewed and was stunned by what took place. She was nearly speechless and stuttered through the interview. She said “I don’t know what to say other than I am sorry and embarrassed.” She added: “I can only hope that plenty of people saw this and maybe will think less highly of these authenticators.”



Afterwards, James Spence when asked about this latest fiasco had no answer except to say he was sorry.



We have seen the demise of several autograph authenticating companies during the last few years. As collectors become more educated about these so-called autograph authenticating companies the less they will use there services. With the extremely high volume of mistakes made by authenticating companies many believe if you see an item that comes with a COA from an authenticating company, a red light immediately goes up as that item should get a second opinion from a reputable autograph dealer. Word has been spreading rapidly amongst collectors and in cases such as this we would have to believe that the above show promoter has learned her lesson the hard way and will not be renting space to authenticating companies in the future.



We have also found that some high profile self promoting autograph authenticators have been traveling around the country to card shops trying to be the shops authenticator. The reputations are starting to follow these authenticators and recently one of the major card shops in Florida, who hold regular private signings, told the authenticator there was no need for his services. We have also been told that collectors are beginning to boycott shops who use autograph authenticators. Most say, “I need the shop owner to guarantee what they sell, I don’t need an opinion or guess from someone who is not competent authenticating autographs.”

[Smuck]

This is the first time I hear of JSA, and the last. Doesn't the authentication process take longer than this?

I have ONE autograph from eBay that my grandmother bought me, and I will tell you this. It's real.

This really does make me wonder..

Nice post!

[James]

In no way is this suprising.. good video though!

[MW1221]

Was that show in Chicago?


As a Chicago resident, and sports memorbilia collector I'm scared.

Also, does anyone know when that was on? I should've seen it.