Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Banksy eBay Fraud
The Art Newspaper has reported that employees of the company that authenticates and publishes Banksy prints "Pictures on Walls" (POW), have been selling unauthorized Banksy prints on eBay. Not only have the Banksy prints been forged with a replica POW stamp and fake Banksy signature, but they have also used shill bidding, where the bids are artificially inflated by friends of the seller.
A whistelblower that was involved with the scam alerted the Art Newspaper to the eBay auctions. There were anything from 25 to 100 fake Banksy prints sold.
Revealed: the eBay Banksy print fraud
In a statement Banksy, his dealer Steve Lazarides, and the directors of POW, confirmed that unauthorised prints “have been sold on eBay” and stressed that they along with members of the public “have been victims of criminal behaviour”. The company has launched a full-scale investigation and is inviting concerned collectors wanting to reauthenticate their Banksy prints to come forward." The Art Newspaper
>> Banksy News, Art Fraud ¶ 2:26 AM
The Art Newspaper has reported that employees of the company that authenticates and publishes Banksy prints "Pictures on Walls" (POW), have been selling unauthorized Banksy prints on eBay. Not only have the Banksy prints been forged with a replica POW stamp and fake Banksy signature, but they have also used shill bidding, where the bids are artificially inflated by friends of the seller.A whistelblower that was involved with the scam alerted the Art Newspaper to the eBay auctions. There were anything from 25 to 100 fake Banksy prints sold.
Revealed: the eBay Banksy print fraud
In a statement Banksy, his dealer Steve Lazarides, and the directors of POW, confirmed that unauthorised prints “have been sold on eBay” and stressed that they along with members of the public “have been victims of criminal behaviour”. The company has launched a full-scale investigation and is inviting concerned collectors wanting to reauthenticate their Banksy prints to come forward." The Art Newspaper
>> Banksy News, Art Fraud ¶ 2:26 AM
Yikes!!!!!
I just bought his book "wall and piece" and I couldn't stop laughing at the statement on the back.
"There is no way you're going to get a quote from us to us on your book cover" Metropolitan Police spokesperson
I just bought his book "wall and piece" and I couldn't stop laughing at the statement on the back.
"There is no way you're going to get a quote from us to us on your book cover" Metropolitan Police spokesperson
not really a scam though is it, everyone does that on ebay, whether its art or an ipod. Theres probably more artistic relevance in an ipod.
# posted by 
: 10:40 AM
: 10:40 AM
I have to agree about it not being a brilliant scam, copycat art on ebay is rife.
As for artistic relevance, thats like everything, in the eye of the beholder I guess.
As for artistic relevance, thats like everything, in the eye of the beholder I guess.
I would still buy one if it was less dearer and a good quality print...
Do they do fraudy Warhol by the way?
Do they do fraudy Warhol by the way?
Ha!, that's a funny quote Jafabrit. It kind of sums up what Banksy does.
Angela, if you don't mind who actually did the work, Chinese painters do reproductions pretty cheaply.
Angela, if you don't mind who actually did the work, Chinese painters do reproductions pretty cheaply.
Its not as though much of the Banksy's work was "authorised" to begin with and images of work are available for free off his website so it's all relative really
Does Banksy really expect to garner sympathy with his statement about being the victim of criminal behaviour? I figured he would respond with something more along the lines of "Heck Yeah."
What about non email scams like Ebay scams and similar? Here is a listing from Ebay that you just have to see to believe (I was actually looking forward to using their skin peeler rejuvenation until I checked into them a little bit):
Ebay item # 160252058962
The seller hollywood_calif1 (aka bettercomplexions and hollywood_calif amongst other Ebay usernames) claims to be a licensed doctor - "This is TCA from a Medical Licensed DR." - (right from their listings) and has a real looking diploma on the website - I checked into it by contacting the state medical board for both Oregon and California (they claim to be from both) and there is no licensed doctor of any specialty in either state with that name.
Here are the contact numbers for the Oregon and California State Medical Boards if anyone wants to see for themselves:
Oregon Medical Board
1500 SW 1st Ave., Suite 620
Portland, OR 97201-5847
Phone: 971-673-2700
http://www.oregon.gov/OMB/
California Medical Board
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
1-800-633-2322
(916) 263-2525
http://www.medbd.ca.gov/board/contact_us.html
I contacted the FDA and was told they already have been alerted to them and that they also have these website addresses (and to think I thought they were only on Ebay) where they sell the same items and products -
http://www.bettercomplexions.com
http://www.tcapeel.net
Here is the contact info for the FDA I used:
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 1-800-216-7331
http://www.fda.gov/comments.html
What's really amazing is I sent this info to Ebay and they didn't seem to care as the seller is a big power seller.
S.
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Ebay item # 160252058962
The seller hollywood_calif1 (aka bettercomplexions and hollywood_calif amongst other Ebay usernames) claims to be a licensed doctor - "This is TCA from a Medical Licensed DR." - (right from their listings) and has a real looking diploma on the website - I checked into it by contacting the state medical board for both Oregon and California (they claim to be from both) and there is no licensed doctor of any specialty in either state with that name.
Here are the contact numbers for the Oregon and California State Medical Boards if anyone wants to see for themselves:
Oregon Medical Board
1500 SW 1st Ave., Suite 620
Portland, OR 97201-5847
Phone: 971-673-2700
http://www.oregon.gov/OMB/
California Medical Board
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
1-800-633-2322
(916) 263-2525
http://www.medbd.ca.gov/board/contact_us.html
I contacted the FDA and was told they already have been alerted to them and that they also have these website addresses (and to think I thought they were only on Ebay) where they sell the same items and products -
http://www.bettercomplexions.com
http://www.tcapeel.net
Here is the contact info for the FDA I used:
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 1-800-216-7331
http://www.fda.gov/comments.html
What's really amazing is I sent this info to Ebay and they didn't seem to care as the seller is a big power seller.
S.
# posted by : 6:27 PM
: 6:27 PMSee our comments policy Comment spam will be deleted
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