The eBay BS Game: Questionable items, Stephen King signatures, sellers

[Room 217 Caretaker]

Reminiscing about an old feel good case from Pennsylvania:

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...feds-watching/


Mulleins

[tippy4]

Any time one of us contacts a seller about their selling a forgery should include that link.

[webstar1000]

Any time one of us contacts a seller about their selling a forgery should include that link.

They wouldn’t care though My man. Especially from a 10 year old article. They will never stop


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[Room 217 Caretaker]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

[webstar1000]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

That’s awesome Ralph! Thanks for sharing man!


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[zelig]

It’s very satisfying to hear stories like this.

[tippy4]

Any thoughts on this:

SIGNED TALISMAN

I think it might be real....but I also think it might be a better than most forgery.

This seller has listed multiple signed items over the years......and I always feel the same about the signature.....could be legit....could be fake.

He has listed a signed Blaze....which is tough to come by....and i don't believe any of his items are inscribed or dated.

[HONKYTONKSMASH]

Any thoughts on this:

SIGNED TALISMAN

I think it might be real....but I also think it might be a better than most forgery.

This seller has listed multiple signed items over the years......and I always feel the same about the signature.....could be legit....could be fake.

He has listed a signed Blaze....which is tough to come by....and i don't believe any of his items are inscribed or dated.

Before I even clicked the link..i knew the Talisman you were referring to... In my opinion, his sigs are "better than most" forgeries.

[webstar1000]

Any thoughts on this:

SIGNED TALISMAN

I think it might be real....but I also think it might be a better than most forgery.

This seller has listed multiple signed items over the years......and I always feel the same about the signature.....could be legit....could be fake.

He has listed a signed Blaze....which is tough to come by....and i don't believe any of his items are inscribed or dated.

Fake. I wouldn’t buy it but totally understand what your saying.


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[amd013]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

So do they make sure they are the buyers in the case where they are waiting for a certain dollar amount? Do they bid up the book to help get over that dollar limit? Or would that be considered entrapment?

[Room 217 Caretaker]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

So do they make sure they are the buyers in the case where they are waiting for a certain dollar amount? Do they bid up the book to help get over that dollar limit? Or would that be considered entrapment?

Not a certain amount per auction...but total sales over an amount of time.

Make sense?

Mulleins

[amd013]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

So do they make sure they are the buyers in the case where they are waiting for a certain dollar amount? Do they bid up the book to help get over that dollar limit? Or would that be considered entrapment?

Not a certain amount per auction...but total sales over an amount of time.

Make sense?

Mulleins

Yes, that's how I understood it the first time.

What I meant, is if they are waiting for a threshold, then they have to knowingly allow more (likely) fraudulent sales to go through. So I am wondering if they make sure they are the buyers to protect other innocent ebay'ers, and to collect the evidence (and maintain chain of custody?). They could aid in the threshold being crossed sooner by inflating the sales prices (reverse shill bidding?), but I am not sure that would be legal.

[Room 217 Caretaker]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

So do they make sure they are the buyers in the case where they are waiting for a certain dollar amount? Do they bid up the book to help get over that dollar limit? Or would that be considered entrapment?

Not a certain amount per auction...but total sales over an amount of time.

Make sense?

Mulleins

Yes, that's how I understood it the first time.

What I meant, is if they are waiting for a threshold, then they have to knowingly allow more (likely) fraudulent sales to go through. So I am wondering if they make sure they are the buyers to protect other innocent ebay'ers, and to collect the evidence (and maintain chain of custody?). They could aid in the threshold being crossed sooner by inflating the sales prices (reverse shill bidding?), but I am not sure that would be legal.

Sorry, Not sure.

Mulleins

[Stockerlone]

Something ´NICE´ from Germany

Spoiler:

[herbertwest]

That's nice! I am guessing that there arent much german signed books !

[Stockerlone]

That's nice! I am guessing that there arent much german signed books !

There are only the signed Dr. Sleep SK promo tour books, the 25 S/L Duddits and some books from the good old
time when it was possible to send SK books to sign. The book on the pic. is an ugly old german softcover.
(There are also some German SK books with fake sig.)

[Patrick]

I know the agent that helped with this deal. Here's how they caught them (and yes I've been given permission to share):

As mentioned in the article they would use one account to purchase non signed books, forge the signature, and resell through another account. The agents involved used some already in place eBay members to contact the eBay person in question to see if they wanted to purchase some King books. The eBay person in question said yes. The agents marked a page somewhere in the books (if you didn't know it was there you would never notice the mark). The unsigned book (with the special mark) was sent to the buyer. About a week later, the seller started putting signed books on eBay through the other account. Again, using a volunteer eBay members account, the book was purchased. Sure enough, the marked book now was signed by King.

A few eBay sellers laugh at this and really don't have a clue they are being monitored by a task force. On top of selling forged copies, the seller is also breaking Federal laws by mailing forged books through the Post Office therefore stacking onto the case against them. They don't shut eBay forgers down immediately because they wait until a certain dollar amount is reached.

So, if you ever wonder, do we make a difference in pointing out forged copies.......yes, yes we do.

It just so happens a another case is about to get exposed. Pennsylvania of all places.

Mulleins

Just saw this. So awesome. It also clears a lot of the frustration many of us have get about feeling like our complaints/reporting weren’t being taken seriously.

[Fsmdr]

What are you guys thoughts on this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/034-039-SAL...p2047675.l2557

There are some genuine signatures mixed in with fakes with this seller. I'm inclined to go either way with this one.

[Randall Flagg]

No bueno.

[becca69]

What are you guys thoughts on this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/034-039-SAL...p2047675.l2557

There are some genuine signatures mixed in with fakes with this seller. I'm inclined to go either way with this one.

Dr. Sleep an EOW are the only one's that are good IMO. Not sure about Tommyknockers.

[Randall Flagg]

Terrible:
Stephen King, SIGNED!, Cell, 1st Edition, 1st Printing, Mylar

$285.00
Dec-3 05:01or Best Offer

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

Anyone know Ebay chriscujo??

Yes. He sold most of his
Supercollection through Betts in 2006

[andyg75]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F273619811682

Terrible, and he has a N&D for sale too. I made a reasonable offer of $2 for both and was declined 😂😂

[Room 217 Caretaker]

I know this seller has been discussed here before, but stay clear of him. I feel sorry for the high bidder (but a little research goes a long way):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stephen-Kin...4AAOSwckVcK~qg

Mulleins

[Room 217 Caretaker]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Not this issue again:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Stephe...EAAOSwpaVcLWx0

SMH

Mulleins