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View Full Version : A must watch video for everyone...



porsche544
08-29-2007, 08:17 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2gPS50-Wfs

follow the link above

brianborsch
08-29-2007, 08:42 PM
What downer for collecting. If someone can forge that many signatures that well, thats just ridiculous. Preach on about those darned COA's though! Thank God I don't collect those old greats! I think I am safe with the current minor leaguers.

Vintagedeputy
08-29-2007, 10:16 PM
Thats exactly why I dont buy autographed items unless I watched it being signed........shameless.

MichaelofSF
08-29-2007, 11:43 PM
great video. Growing up in the late 80s and 90s I used to see signatures in card stores on baseballs that I thought I could do a better job of forging. I guess that's because they really were fakes.

aeneas01
08-30-2007, 03:50 AM
sobering video - even more sobering given that it only scratches the surface imho...

what i found most interesting:

- upper deck's insistance that they were right despite clear evidence to the contrary. as a matter of fact, i believe a bogus item can and will maintain its value once it's issued a coa by a well-known authenticator such as upperdeck - even if many others can show that it is bogus.

- i also believe that many disreputable dealers know this and are willing to purchase, or list, a bogus item for resale if it is accompanied with such a coa.

- the beyond the reach of the law attitude displayed by donald frangipani because he was offering nothing more than his opinion. it's clear that he feels completely untouchable and, imo, it's equally clear that others in his line of work feel the same.

for example:

One of the most visible certification letters accompanying autographed sports memorabilia lots under eBay is signed by Donald Frangipani of Brooklyn, N.Y., who is touted as a veteran forensic specialist. To some, his letter means credibility; to others, the letter means the item is bogus. In an interview with Sweet Spot, Don Frangipani discussed many topics related to authenticating sports memorabilia. As an immediate point of clarification, Frangipani says when he issues his letters, "I'm not authenticating an item; I am merely giving my opinion. Many of the letters that people see are not my letters. I know a guy in Canada who is forging my letters. I had a detective in Boston area purchase Foxx, Gehrig and Ruth cut signatures with my letters. The items came with my letters that were faked. Another organization has 300 of my letters. I can show you 15 letters I never issued. I've seen Sosa and McGwire baseballs sold with one of my letters. The items were all fakes and they're sold all over the place." While discussing that others are forging his letters, Frangipani added that he does make mistakes "just like dealers and other examiners make mistakes." He added, "Do I make mistakes? I'm not God. I offer a letter of verification. I don't issue a certificate of authenticity; that's up to the dealer. I issue a letter of signature verification, but it is the dealer who has the responsibility. He may have a different opinion than I have."

http://www.sweetspotnews.com/frangshort.html

BoneRubbedBat
08-30-2007, 10:13 AM
C/P from E-Bay:

Authentication
Autographs are commonly sold with "Certificates of Authenticity" (COA), which are meant to assure the buyer that the signature is genuinely made by the person claimed. However, COAs are only as valuable as the reputation of the issuing party. Anyone can offer a COA, so it is important to investigate the background of each "authenticator."
There are many reputable autograph experts, and eBay has identified a partial list of authenticators (http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/auth-overview.html) for your benefit. These authenticators offer various services for buyers and sellers of autographs.
Listing Guidelines
eBay strongly recommends that autograph sellers include all relevant information in their listings about the autograph and the item it appears on, including:

A clear, scanned image of the actual autographed item for sale.
All relevant information about the Certificate of Authenticity (if the signature or item has been authenticated), including the name of the person or company issuing the certificate.
A scan of the Certificate of Authenticity (if the signature or item has been authenticated)
Seller’s refund policy—in case any reputable dealer (including those dealers listed in the relevant authentication section of eBay's site) find that the item is likely not authentic.Unacceptable Authenticators on eBay
Many eBay members have heard about a federal investigation by the FBI and United States Attorneys' offices into forgeries of sports autographs and certificates of authenticity that may have been falsely issued. As a result of that case, eBay will not permit the use of or reference to certificates of authenticity on its site that have been issued by the following parties:

All-Sports Cards & Memorabilia
Classic Memorabilia
Dave Niedema, a.k.a. Dave Madiema
Donald Frangipani
Forensic Document Services-Robert Prouty
Hollywood Dreams
J. Dimaggio Co. / J. Dimaggio Company
Legends Sports Memorabilia
North Shore Sports
Pro Sports / Pro Sports Memorabilia
R.R.'s Sports Cards & Collectibles
SCAA /Front Page Art Angela-John Marino
Slamdunk Sportscards Memoribilia
Sport Card Kid Hunting Beachor
Sports Alley Memorabilia
Sports Management Group
Stan's Sports / Stans Sports Memorabilia
Steve Ryan
Universal
Universal Inc.
Universal Memorabilia
W.W. Sportscards & CollectiblesUnrelated to this investigation, eBay does not allow Certificates of Authenticity from any of the following authenticators:

Donald Frangipani
Hundreds of COAs originally issued by Donald Frangipani may have been fraudulently copied or altered. Until further notice, eBay will not permit any use of or reference to certificates of authenticity issued by Donald Frangipani.
Robert Prouty

Forensic examiner Robert Prouty and a company known as Forensic Document Services caused a number of certificates to be issued based upon only limited, "cursory" reviews of autographs. Based upon information from the N.Y. Department of Consumer Affairs, federal law enforcement and Mr. Prouty, it appears that these limited reviews were not sufficient to provide meaningful assurances about the authenticity of the autograph. As a number of items issued with such certificates may be forgeries, eBay will not permit any such limited certificates of authenticity issued by Robert Prouty or Forensic Document Services to be used in any way on eBay.
Forensic Document ServicesAny listings that refer to examinations or certificates of authenticity from these companies or individuals are not allowed.