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New Jersey Couple Charged With Selling Fake Cards on eBay

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Andrew Mei, 34, and his fiancée, Deborah Fernandez, 37, face charges of theft by deception, identity theft and computer-related theft for allegedly making and selling counterfeit sports trading cards on eBay. Mei was arrested on Monday in their Coombs Drive home, and Fernandez was issued a summons, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said in a release.

The charges stem from a scam that authorities believe started at least six years ago. Mei allegedly purchased real sports memorabilia on eBay, then made copies of the items and sold them on the website. PayPal and eBay learned of the scam in April 2014 and notified the United States Postal Inspection Services, Molinelli said. As early as 2008, Mei sold fake trading cards, rare, gold coins and bars using his name and variations of his name, according to authorities.

eBay first learned of Mei's counterfeit sales in 2012 and shut down his accounts. But in March 2013, Mei created new eBay and PayPal accounts, using a stolen identity belonging to a victim in California, Molinelli said. Fernandez's bank accounts and credit cards were allegedly used in the fraudulent sales.

Mei is being held at the county jail on $75,000 bail. Fernandez is slated to appear in court on Tuesday.

Calls to the prosecutor's office for more information were not immediately returned.

Comments

  • 19541954 Posts: 2,905 ✭✭✭
    Good news. 1 down and 43, 233 to go.
    Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
  • Right in my own backyard again....... The Bergen County prosecutor has been busy lately as he just got done selling a giant Sports memorabilia collection by auction that was confiscated because of a local Pharmacist who was using stolen scripts to peddle narcotics and fatten his wallet.
  • addicted2ebayaddicted2ebay Posts: 2,096 ✭✭✭✭
    I wish they would give out there eBay account in the story to see what his work looks like but I have to say that fake slabs are more of a problem than fake cards now a days.
  • mtcardsmtcards Posts: 3,340 ✭✭✭
    He has one of the few wives that understands his love of cards.....
    IT IS ALWAYS CHEAPER TO NOT SELL ON EBAY
  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    Those darn cougars, nothing but trouble.
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