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  291324287064: Apollo 11 crew autographs

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Author Topic:   291324287064: Apollo 11 crew autographs
Michael1976
Member

Posts: 106
From: Chandler, AZ 85249
Registered: Nov 2011

posted 12-12-2014 04:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Michael1976   Click Here to Email Michael1976     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This one doesn't look too good. I could be completely wrong.

eBay lot 291324287064.

Steve Zarelli
Member

Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 12-12-2014 04:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have reported this item to eBay. The seller is using a stolen scan of my LOAs from another auction, and he superimposed the bad item onto the LOA image.

A photoshop manipulated copy of one of my LOAs. The LOA image was stolen from this legit item offered by Florian.

In hand, I am sure it would be obvious the LOA was a copy — not original, did not bear my original signature or have the embossed seal.

It would have been a nice courtesy to receive this information directly rather than a message board posting that casts doubt without even giving me a chance to respond.

JasonB
Member

Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-12-2014 04:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well sometimes people need to remember the best advice I've heard — RUN AWAY!!!

Michael1976
Member

Posts: 106
From: Chandler, AZ 85249
Registered: Nov 2011

posted 12-12-2014 05:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Michael1976   Click Here to Email Michael1976     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I figured it was a stolen LOA. Sorry if the message came across as anything else. There was no harm intended. I simply wanted to get it out that this may of occurred.

JasonB
Member

Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-12-2014 08:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow I didn't even notice they stole an image of one of Steves LOA's. There is just no limit to how low people will go.

jtheoret
Member

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-12-2014 11:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow. Simply amazing. Steve, I think you may have more remedies to you available than just reporting to eBay.

garyd2831
Member

Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009

posted 12-13-2014 07:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garyd2831   Click Here to Email garyd2831     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To me, I see this is more of a criminal act. Again, the legal system which is overwhelmed would have to weigh its value in comparison to other crimes being committed.

Truly a sad world that things are coming too.

moonnut
Member

Posts: 248
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Apr 2013

posted 12-13-2014 08:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for moonnut   Click Here to Email moonnut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I knew as soon as I saw Steve's LOA that it was manufactured. This person has taken theft to a felony level. Blatant fraud.

I would get the law involved in this one, Steve. We here in collectSPACE know your expertise and have high regard for your services. Steve, you should buy it and get his/her address when he/she sends it to you and then you also have the manufactured LOA as evidence for a case against him/her. But have the opening of the package upon arrival witnessed by others.

I hope something is done to this seller. They are not the smartest, cause they are using the same account for selling, got 13 feedbacks. Sorry if I went on a bit, this just makes me upset!

On edit: I just noticed they are in Spain, which makes things considerably more difficult for law to be involved. Grrr.

Mike_The_First
Member

Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014

posted 12-13-2014 05:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike_The_First   Click Here to Email Mike_The_First     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The "blockiness" of the picture on the COA is the first thing I noticed.

Considering the COA is referring to a high quality image, yet contains the exact opposite, should be enough to ward off anyone who looked at this with an intelligent eye.

Steve Zarelli
Member

Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 12-14-2014 12:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank everyone for your support.

I take this matter very seriously and have been aggressively pursuing this fraudulent stolen scan auction. I spoke by phone with a special eBay rep late Friday, and after our conversation he was quite clear what had happened and recognized the scan was stolen from Florian's auction. He assured me the auction would be removed, but it may take a few days.

If this seller was based in the U.S., I would have also contacted local law enforcement and filed a criminal complaint regarding this blatant fraud.

As a side note, I retain high resolution images of every item I review and have a complete database of every LOA I have issued as well. Even without having the evidence from Florian's auction, I would have been able to produce a copy of the original.

Regrettable, stolen scan manipulation is a common issue. I have seen this happen with PSA, auction house certs, certificates from reputable dealers, etc. I guess it was only a matter of time before it happened to me. To protect against this, my letters have embossed seals and bear my live signature. They are laser printed on high quality linen watermarked paper. Scammers like this may fool someone with the online image, but once the document was in hand, it would be obvious it was not authentic.

As a further measure, I continuously monitor sales with my LOAs and receive notifications. I knew about this auction within an hour of it going live and immediately took action.

Hopefully I will be able to report back soon the auction has been removed.

Steve Zarelli
Member

Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 12-14-2014 12:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mike_The_First:
The "blockiness" of the picture on the COA is the first thing I noticed.
You are correct, Mike. It is clear the resolution on the photo is different than the rest of the letter.

Steve Zarelli
Member

Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 12-15-2014 02:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am happy to report the auction was stopped.

Regrettably, it appears the seller has now listed a five presidents signed photo that is just as ghastly as the bogus Apollo 11.

fredtrav
Member

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 12-15-2014 04:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I saw that. It is amazing that eBay does nothing to stop this. You offered proof to them that this seller was engaging in illegal conduct (forging your LOA) along with selling a forged item. The seller should be banned from selling. I know he will just register again under a new name, and probably has done this a lready but at least they could make the appearance of doing the right thing.

Joel Katzowitz
Member

Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 12-15-2014 06:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Joel Katzowitz   Click Here to Email Joel Katzowitz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
And, even more amazingly, it's back up on eBay under the seller's original name. All he did was drop the photo of Steve's COA. In fact, the title still mentions the COA but there is no other reference to it.

Unbelievable.

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