FBI Crashes Sports Collectors Convention in Search of Fraudulent Autographs

The National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago was crashed by the FBI for the third consecutive year and plans to investigate the possibility of fraud, counterfeiting and shill bidding.

Sports memorabilia such as signed sports cards to game balls to photographs of players are showcased every year at this event. Unfortunately, the FBI has also found reasons to be in attendance along side the sports fanatics.

The investigation is the third major federal memorabilia probe in the last 15 years. The prior investigations, Operation Foul Ball and Operation Bullpen, targeted forgers who made millions from bogus celebrity autographs. This investigation will focus on the most prestigious firms in the business. Companies being investigated include: Mastro Auctions, Grey Flannel, Heritage Auction, Professional Sports Authenticators, Hunt Auctions and Lelands.

According to dealers and collectors, the FBI agents are focusing on shill bidding, fraudulent memorabilia and card doctoring.

The Chicago grand jury is expected to hand down indictments by the end of summer. This is just another blow to the autograph collecting industry that is ridden with fraudulent pieces and con artists.

The silver lining of the situation belongs to Denver attorney Marshall Fogel, who is trying to organize a national trade association to police the industry. As of now, two dozen executives have met twice about organizing the association.

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Helpful collection websites

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Celebrity Photograph

Here is an autographed picture from when I met the beautiful actress and singer Bobbie Eakes. Bobbie Eakes is known for her role as Macy Alexander on The Bold and the Beautiful and for her role as Krystal Carey on All My Children . Eakes received bit roles on nighttime television series, such as Cheers , before becoming successful in the soap opera genre. In the mid-1980s, she was the lead singer of the dance-pop group Big Trouble. The group released one self-titled CD in 1987. Their single "Crazy World" charted on the U.S. singles chart, reaching #71. She was also featured on country music singer Collin Raye's 2000 single "Tired of Loving This Way", which peaked at #50 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Do you have a picture with a singer or actress that you enjoy in your collection? I would love for you to share it! Leave a link in the comments! To purchase my book Autograph Hell, click HERE To purchase my new bo...

Is the selfie the new autograph?

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