NBC News has aired a lengthy investigative story on a collection of baseball memorabilia purchased as an investment now believed to be fake. A retired New Jersey firefighter, the late Charles Kerr bought items advertised as signed by Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Derek Jeter and other greats. Now his family believes he was swindled for over $100,000 by a dealer … [Read more...]
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Autograph Authenticator Steve Grad Says Forgers Getting Creative
It's National week in Chicago and Beckett's Steve Grad is a very busy guy. You couldn't tell that he’d just flown back to his home city from an event in London. The hobby’s biggest event kept his energy level somewhat akin to a third grader at recess. Grad, also well known as the autograph authenticator on the hit TV show, Pawn Stars, has been a … [Read more...]
Edmonton Police Nab Suspect; Take on Case of Fake Connor McDavid Jerseys
Police in Edmonton have made one arrest and are warning the public about a scam that involves fraudulent Connor McDavid autographs. Chandra Vinesh Singh, 23, is charged with two counts of possession of a forged document, fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000 and false pretense. Singh is also known to go by “Vinesh Singh” or “Vinny.” In April of 2018, it was reported that … [Read more...]
Florida Dealer Booted from 2018 NSCC Facing Charges Over Phony Autographs
A grand jury has indicted a Florida man on four counts related to selling phony autographs with his own certificates of authenticity at last summer's National Sports Collectors Convention. The prosecutor's office in Cuyahoga County, OH tells Sports Collectors Daily that Tony Podsada, who operated Signed Certified Memories, is facing charges of forgery, … [Read more...]
Heroes and Villains in the Fake Autographed T206 Story as More are Uncovered
While the recent exposure of some phony autographs on genuine T206 cards isn’t the biggest scandal in hobby history, it may be in the early stages and certainly worth the discussion it’s generating. On Wednesday, more fakes emerged including a Frank Baker, fully authenticated, that sold at auction for over $24,000 just one month ago. It's the latest in a … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Autographed T206 Forgeries Uncovered
Signed pre-War baseball cards can sell for a pretty penny. Authentic examples are rare, largely because collecting autographs on cards wasn’t really a widespread practice until much later and many of the players were dead when it became commonplace. Authentic autographs on T206 and Goudey sets are out there, but they're generally limited to players who lived long … [Read more...]
Philly TV Investigative Report Focuses on Coach’s Corner
A Pennsylvania man who says he spent $13,000 over two years on autographed items purchased through Coach's Corner Sports Auctions says he's now learned he bought forgeries. Paul Wedding contacted the investigative unit at Philadelphia ABC-TV affiliate WPVI and the station aired a story during its 11 PM newscast Tuesday. For years, Coach's Corner has been a lightning rod … [Read more...]
New Video Shows Dealer Ejected from NSCC Over Suspected Bogus Autographs
Newly released police video taken at this summer’s National Sports Collectors Convention shows the dealer whose booth was shut down over autograph authenticity concerns claiming the signed items he was selling were “decorative items.” At the same time, Tony Podsada says those same autographs “are real. They’ve been looked at by our experts.” Podsada, … [Read more...]
Updated: Dealer Booth Shut Down Over Fake Autographs
A dealer at the National Sports Collectors Convention had his booth shut down and his autographed items confiscated by police Thursday at the I-X Center. Fellow dealers alerted show officials and investigators from the Cleveland Police Financial Crimes Unit soon arrived on the scene, confiscating numerous containers, wrapped items and boxes believed to be carrying phony … [Read more...]
Notes: UK Autograph Forgery Bust; Bee Hive Hockey Exhibit; Panini Honors ’98 Redemption; Brady Still on Fire
Think sports autograph fraud is only a North American problem? Think again. Prosecutors in the UK say they've arrested 46-year-old David Rennie, charging him with running a phony autograph scheme that lasted nine years and defrauded 4,500 people to the tune of over $1 million U.S. Law enforcement agencies say Rennie and his estranged wife would buy replica … [Read more...]
