The Next Operation Bullpen Has Started
 

Lot of rumblings out there today of several million fake signed items, fake panini stickers, etc. One of the head guys killed himself, not sure if there are a thread.

[url]https://x.com/darrenrovell/status/1945646495606169996?s=46[/url]

[url]https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AtfzNHZn2/?mibextid=wwXIfr[/url]

If true, you'd think big-name athletes like Patrick Mahomes would have done something about it at some point -- try and track down who was selling fake autographs of theirs.

For it to have gone on for so long and be so lucrative is kind of mind boggling.

Just posted in Off-Topic. HUGE news.

Pretty sure it was the main guy who shot himself, although not confirmed.

From the article

"“It was an addiction". “How many items can I sell and give a front of a huge company. I did it for years. Purchased millions of dollars of legit items. Mixed it until [name withheld] found the hologram connect. Then I had the bank roll to buy even more. Do more signings. Every one item from a signing turned into 10,000. And it was certified. [B][COLOR="Red"]95% of the [Patrick] Mahomes and Aaron [Judge] on the market are sold by me. Basically every autograph sold in the last 25 years you should have it looked at. It’s fake and someone sold it to you other than me. [/COLOR][/B]
I wish I had the exact dollar number of money taken in from this and I’ll go to my grave never knowing. I kept this secret from everyone."

More details -

[url]https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/breaking-news-sports-memorabilia-dealer-raided-admits-scamming-collectors-hobby-in-350m-fraud-and-forgery-scheme[/url]

this is scary stuff for collectors. but some of what that guy says just seems off. don't know what to believe. $500 million worth of inventory?

You love to see it!

Good thing most of my collection is non-auto LOL

This is going to have some long downstream legs. Will most people care, we shall see. We all know the hobby is hot potato. As long as the item has a certification and sold to the next guy, all good. I don't know how you figure out good from bad if what he says is true. Somebody will pick up his process and restart again. What a mess for autograph memorabilia collectors.

Every auto I have is Topps or in person.

[QUOTE=dodgerfanjohn;19963542]Every auto I have is Topps or in person.[/QUOTE]

No Upper Deck or Poopini? Fleer? Donruss?

[QUOTE=Scottish Punk;19963539]This is going to have some long downstream legs. Will most people care, we shall see. We all know the hobby is hot potato. As long as the item has a certification and sold to the next guy, all good. I don't know how you figure out good from bad if what he says is true. Somebody will pick up his process and restart again. What a mess for autograph memorabilia collectors.[/QUOTE]

Probably true. This so-called "hobby" sure attracts a fickle bunch. People cared for about a day or two after the CT Scan news broke. That should have been the hobby news story of the century, and killed the after-market sealed wax industry but nah, clectors went back to buying sealed boxes from third-party sellers like it was no thang.

1. Hopefully whatever jackwagon was/is running their eBay account is who was found by police. Good riddance if so.

2. Unless this runs really really deep, I don’t see how it even comes close in magnitude to some of the other long-time fake autographed memorabilia/card scams out there. Looking at you New York/New Jersey/Hollywood, FL/Ft Lauderdale, FL scammers.

What, fake stuff in this hobby? Hard to believe

What is he insinuating with Panini?

Did he sell them sticker autos that they eventually used for cards?

[QUOTE=bustsomewax;19963575]What is he insinuating with Panini?

Did he sell them sticker autos that they eventually used for cards?[/QUOTE]

There’s a lot of Kobe autographed memorabilia out there with fake Panini certs. Probably has to do with that.

Shaq cards from say ‘17/‘18 and on could come in to play too.

feel bad for the auto collectors

yeah fake stuff in the hobby not earth shattering news really. What I want to know is how much of this fake stuff was graded by PSA. If they were in on it or at the very least negligent enough to have not done their job and noticed the gates to the kingdom are gonna come crashing down. If I'm Fanatics or any of the other grading companies I'm sitting back watching this situation with a bag of popcorn and salivating.

No surprise.

I would venture to say that there is easily way more forged memorabilia than legitimate.

Ebay is flooded with forgeries.

Someone made a comment in the Mahomes thread. All these in person rookie auto that have popped up lately. Make you think


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In the end, it's all just useless crap anyway...

[QUOTE=PuddleMonkey;19963490]You love to see it![/QUOTE]

What the f*ck is wrong with you dude?

No surprise.

People will do anything to make money.

Personally, I believe that you have to collect like what you bought is already worth zero the minute you buy it.

[QUOTE=3124508 on COMC;19963571]1. Hopefully whatever jackwagon was/is running their eBay account is who was found by police. Good riddance if so.

2. Unless this runs really really deep, I don’t see how it even comes close in magnitude to some of the other long-time fake autographed memorabilia/card scams out there. Looking at you New York/New Jersey/Hollywood,[B] FL/Ft Lauderdale, FL scammers.[/B][/QUOTE]

The X Post states a deep Florida connection.

I'm trying to understand what this means (excerpt from offender's admission)

[img]https://i.imgur.com/29TyaX9l.jpg[/img]

1. Real cards with fake stickers sold as "Buyback" Cards? - We've seen it
2. Counterfeit cards with Fake stickers? - Some have been caught by BODA, the Steph Curry stands out
3. Panini used them as a source? - This wouldn't make sense as I assumed the cards went directly to the player or agent. Uless they somehow convinced Panini that they were the "Agent" or Company to get the athletes in a room and cards signed.

[QUOTE=Archangel1775;19963691]I'm trying to understand what this means

[img]https://i.imgur.com/29TyaX9l.jpg[/img]

1. Real cards with fake stickers sold as "Buyback" Cards? - We've seen it
2. Counterfeit cards with Fake stickers? - Some have been caught by BODA, the Steph Curry stands out
3. Panini used them as a source? - This wouldn't make sense as I assumed the cards went directly to the player or agent. Uless they somehow convinced Panini that they were the "Agent" or Company to get the atheltes in a room and cards signed.[/QUOTE]


I think it’s the second. From what I understand panini does send to directly to the player/agent. Same with Topps


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