FBI nabs 6 sports memorabilia dealers charged with selling fakes to card companies

[pwaldo]

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...ed-with-fraud/

Federal prosecutors have charged six men with selling, consigning or auctioning jerseys to individuals--and card companies-- purported to have been worn by pro and college athletes that were never actually donned in competition. It's the second time in less than four months, fraud charges have been filed against dealers accused of selling bogus jerseys.

Four defendants were charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Rockford, Ill., in criminal informations and two others were charged in indictments. According to the Justice Department, the cases are similar, but separate and involve doctoring jerseys to make them appear game used and re-selling them.

According to court documents, each case involved the sale, consignment, or auction of jerseys, in which each defendant falsely and fraudulently represented to buyers that the jerseys were “game used,” when they were not. Jerseys worn by professional and collegiate athletes during a game are usually known as “game used” or “game worn,” and are commonly bought and sold by collectors and others. The value of game used jerseys varies based on the popularity of the player that used the jersey and how long it had been since the player had actively played the sport. The value of a jersey was greater if it was game used.

Trading card manufacturers frequently purchase game used jerseys, cut the jerseys into small pieces, and insert the pieces into card packages. When game used jerseys were purchased for this purpose, the manufacturers often required that the seller provide a “certificate of authenticity” that the jerseys were authentic game used jerseys.

Prosecutors say the men obtained "hundreds of jerseys" from a variety of sources, including retail sellers, then frequently changed the jerseys’ appearance by roughening, scuffing, washing, or dirtying the jerseys so that they appeared to have actual “wear and tear.” Prosecutors say those same jerseys were then re-sold, consigned, and auctioned for hundreds of thousands of dollars to card companies and other buyers as "game used" jerseys. As part of the scheme, investigators say the defendants provided the buyers with fraudulent certificates of authenticity.

[Johnny Appleseed]

You'd think there would just be a representative there outside the clubhouse after the game to collect them. Dunno about vintage GU materials, but at least now we know what that cryptic COA on the backs of cards really means.

[SingleDaddyof2]

You'd think that as part of the licensing agreements between card companies and sports leagues, the card companies would be forbidden from obtaining jerseys, bats, etc. from outside sources and only receive them directly from the teams--no exceptions.

[Hilfiger1975]

LOL!

-toilet flushes on GU-

[Hilfiger1975]

You'd think that as part of the licensing agreements between card companies and sports leagues, the card companies would be forbidden from obtaining jerseys, bats, etc. from outside sources and only receive them directly from the teams--no exceptions.

Why would card companies do that? It's better to get the stuff from a 3rd source and get it for way cheaper; who cares if its fake or not, they are making a quicker, cheaper, buck and they have nothing to worry about since they are not the ones forging...

[Hilfiger1975]

You'd think there would just be a representative there outside the clubhouse after the game to collect them. Dunno about vintage GU materials, but at least now we know what that cryptic COA on the backs of cards really means.

Ya, it means GU is fake...lol...i think this is where i tell everyone, "i told you so."

[SingleDaddyof2]

Why would card companies do that?...

Oh I dunno...I just figured card companies and MLB would want to keep customers confidence in their product--silly me!

[patriotsguy]

This doesn't surprise me at all unfortunately...

[Hilfiger1975]

Oh I dunno...I just figured card companies and MLB would want to keep customers confidence in their product--silly me!

See the good thing now is the card companies can "pass the buck" and say they had no idea about this...

[CollecterOfBalls]

"As part of the scheme, investigators say the defendants provided the buyers with fraudulent certificates of authenticity."

COAs always crack me up... some nice paper and a decent printer and someone can "authenticate" just about anything