Massive Autograph Fraud Uncovered

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brad31
brad31 Posts: 3,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/indiana-police-suicide-followed-counterfeit-sports-memorabilia-raid/

Hate how much deception and crime there is in our hobby. Apparently they were using autopens and printing holograms of authenticator with matching numbers. Saw estimates floating around on YouTube coverage of $450MM. A lot of people were taken advantage of. Hope the rest of the ring gets long prison sentences.

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  • brad31
    brad31 Posts: 3,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    There is a Facebook Confession by the supposed leader. Won’t post because it is profanity laden but easy to find. If half of it is true a lot of collectors were really harmed.

    Feel sorry for any legit auto dealers at The National. Any auto dealer’s booth will probably be a place to get a little air from the crowds.

  • picklepete
    picklepete Posts: 455 ✭✭✭✭
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    The guys name was Brett Lemieux & they raided his warehouse on the 15th
    Then yesterday the 16th they came to another location to search & found him dead by suicide.
    Massive fraud scheme

  • olb31
    olb31 Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Greed -- one of the 7 deadly sins, here you see why. Very sad. I like money as much as the next guy but not to this degree.

    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • brad31
    brad31 Posts: 3,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @picklepete said:
    The guys name was Brett Lemieux & they raided his warehouse on the 15th
    Then yesterday the 16th they came to another location to search & found him dead by suicide.
    Massive fraud scheme

    I had not seen it confirmed he was the deceased. He named a lot of people in his confession. I hope the FBI convicts everyone else involved.

  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2025 7:33AM
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    I never liked autographed cards….too hard to authenticate.

    mint_only_pls
  • olb31
    olb31 Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Only the ones that come from the card company, with their seal of approval.

    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • gemint
    gemint Posts: 6,289 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The only autographs I've bought are ones I was able to get signed in person.

    https://ebay.com/sch/gemint/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Operation Bullpenagain

  • craig44
    craig44 Posts: 13,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    this will (and should) shake up the auto industry.

    unless you watched an item get signed, you do not know for sure. that includes pack issued autos.

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,046 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @craig44 said:
    this will (and should) shake up the auto industry.

    unless you watched an item get signed, you do not know for sure. that includes pack issued autos.

    Except that that autograph is then worthless because no one else can trust what you claim to have seen with your eyes.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • vplite99
    vplite99 Posts: 1,434 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    This is a rough time for the hobby.

    Vplite99
  • brad31
    brad31 Posts: 3,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Business as usual for Mister Mancave even though they were mentioned prominently in Brett Lemieux’s confession

    https://mistermancave.com/

  • brad31
    brad31 Posts: 3,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2025 12:47PM
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    The above could be a different company. Mister Mancave LLC is in Indiana. MisterMancave LLC Is in Ohio.

  • SDSportsFan
    SDSportsFan Posts: 5,232 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @brad31 said:
    The above could be a different company. Mister Mancave LLC is in Indiana. MisterMancave LLC Is in Ohio.

    I think it's the same company. I bought two signed baseballs last year from MisterMancave on ebay; in my feedback history, it comes up as "breakthebankautos". The two baseballs were Clayton Kershaw and Giancarlo Stanton; both have JSA stickers and cards. Breakthebankautos is mentioned in the update at the end of the SCD/Rich Mueller article.

    Steve

  • CardGeek
    CardGeek Posts: 792 ✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2025 3:33PM
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    FWIW this happened a while back:

    California Law (AB 1570): California has specific regulations regarding the sale of autographed memorabilia. As of January 1, 2017, AB 1570 requires that dealers selling autographed items for more than $5 must furnish a certificate of authenticity to the consumer at the time of sale. This law expanded the existing California Civil Code §1739.7, which previously focused solely on sports memorabilia, to include all autographed collectibles.

    Dealing in autographs has always been a shady business.

  • grote15
    grote15 Posts: 30,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    These revelations will undoubtedly have an impact on the auto industry part of the hobby at least in the short term but if there's one thing I've learned over the decades about this hobby it's that collectors have very short memories when it comes to scandals.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • BBBrkrr
    BBBrkrr Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @grote15 said:
    These revelations will undoubtedly have an impact on the auto industry part of the hobby at least in the short term but if there's one thing I've learned over the decades about this hobby it's that collectors have very short memories when it comes to scandals.

    Absolutely, 100%.

    People want what they want and it's a very solid fact through studies humans are all pretty terrible at making correct objective decisions. Especially when it comes to something as emotionally sentimental like a hobby we developed as kids.

  • UFFDAH
    UFFDAH Posts: 2,883 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I watched Vida Blue autograph my baseball at Milwaukee County Stadium when I was a kid. He even signed it in Blue.

  • BBBrkrr
    BBBrkrr Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    ^^

    Man, did you watch that documentary that was released back in April on the '82 Brewers team? Even though I'm not a Brew Crew fan it was cool seeing all those guys talk about the team.

  • picklepete
    picklepete Posts: 455 ✭✭✭✭
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    @brad31 said:

    @picklepete said:
    The guys name was Brett Lemieux & they raided his warehouse on the 15th
    Then yesterday the 16th they came to another location to search & found him dead by suicide.
    Massive fraud scheme

    I had not seen it confirmed he was the deceased. He named a lot of people in his confession. I hope the FBI convicts everyone else involved.

    The Hamilton County Coroner's Office identified autograph dealer Brett Lemieux, 45, as the man found dead when police executed a search warrant into a scheme involving fake sports memorabilia in Westfield, Indiana.

  • UFFDAH
    UFFDAH Posts: 2,883 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    We all personally never watched the Constitution get signed. Must be fake.

  • BBBrkrr
    BBBrkrr Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @UFFDAH said:
    We all personally never watched the Constitution get signed. Must be fake.

    Pretty sure I've seen the hologram sticker on the back proving it's authentic.

    Or maybe that was the Declaration of Independence that Nicolas Cage stole...

  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @UFFDAH said:
    We all personally never watched the Constitution get signed. Must be fake.

    They were our forefathers. Daddy would never lie.

  • 1982FootballWax
    1982FootballWax Posts: 2,839 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2025 7:45PM
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    @UFFDAH said:
    We all personally never watched the Constitution get signed.

    Speak for yourself

    It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
    Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)

  • UFFDAH
    UFFDAH Posts: 2,883 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2025 7:42PM
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    The Constitution is safe...kida sorta...🤣🤣

  • 1982FootballWax
    1982FootballWax Posts: 2,839 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2025 7:47PM
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    in the early 90s the FBI estimated 50% to 90% of all Sports Autographs were forgeries, thus since then nothing has changed.

    It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
    Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)

  • coolstanley
    coolstanley Posts: 3,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @1982FBWaxMemories said:
    in the early 90s the FBI estimated 50% to 90% of all Sports Autographs were forgeries, thus since then nothing has changed.

    One reason why I have zero interest in signed tickets. That, and the fact I hate the scribble on what would otherwise be a beautiful looking ticket.

    2025 SEC bowl record 4-10

    SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8

  • coastaljerseyguy
    coastaljerseyguy Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    From what I read looks like Brady jerseys and Kobe auto pictures were large fraud items. But since he operated for several years, the list could include about anything. What I'd like to know is did he use original Steiner, JSA, Tristar COA #'s or did he have made up new #'s. Just wondering if I look up the # and it comes back authentic for item, mine is ok.

  • georgebailey2
    georgebailey2 Posts: 1,112 ✭✭✭
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    While this is no doubt a big deal, the scope as implied in the guy's Facebook confessional is probably overstated by an order of magnitude. I doubt his estate and/or tax returns support his level of claims. Regardless, it will still be significant.

    What seemed most disturbing to me was the idea that they could autopen on anything. That implies helmets, balls, bats, etc, which I would have assumed would be difficult to do. Additionally, the implication that they would do a signing and then supplement it with the autopen. This may be what happened in the Philadelphia area guy story earlier this year regarding Jason Kelce autos and Beckett.

  • RonSportscards
    RonSportscards Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    And with so many modern players just using their initials as their auto, it's even easier to counterfeit.

    (Someone said it's Blake Grupe, Saints kicker.)

    And collectors have reported finding sheets of signed stickers in the wild.

  • Tabe
    Tabe Posts: 6,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @olb31 said:
    Only the ones that come from the card company, with their seal of approval.

    There have been multiple instances of those being bad as well. In addition, they generally do not witness the autographs they put into packs.

  • BBBrkrr
    BBBrkrr Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It also seems these things happen periodically when companies get lazy and just think they're in total control of everything. It is a bit funny when they find out they're not and it seriously ruins their reputations and bottom lines...

  • ndleo
    ndleo Posts: 4,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 19, 2025 8:06AM
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    In the NYT, Fanatics claimed they were aware of him a few years ago and helped in the FBI investigation. According to Fanatics, there is no way the volume he quoted in his burn letter is near the true amount.

    Take it FWIW. IMO I think good old Brett tried to bring everyone down including the entire hobby before he Epsteined himself.

    I haven’t purchased any signed memorabilia so I’m not really worried about this sinking the hobby. In the end I don’t think it will affect the hobby outside of signed stuff that can be traced to Brett.

    We have been through a lot of hobby scandals and it continues to roll on.

    Operation Bullpen
    WiWAG
    PWCC
    Logan Paul’s Pokémon Case
    And more that I forgot about

    Mike
  • BBBrkrr
    BBBrkrr Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    But isn’t that exactly what Fanatics should say.

    My guess is the dude exaggerated his scope of fraud but Fanatics definitely has an interest in downplaying the scale of it all. Probably ends up somewhere in the middle but the damage to Fanatics, Panini, etc will be real.

  • CardGeek
    CardGeek Posts: 792 ✭✭✭
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    @ndleo said:
    I haven’t purchased any signed memorabilia so I’m not really worried about this sinking the hobby. In the end I don’t think it will affect the hobby outside of signed stuff that can be traced to Brett.

    What if the signed stuff can't be traced back. Doesn't that affect the hobby?

  • ndleo
    ndleo Posts: 4,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @CardGeek said:

    @ndleo said:
    I haven’t purchased any signed memorabilia so I’m not really worried about this sinking the hobby. In the end I don’t think it will affect the hobby outside of signed stuff that can be traced to Brett.

    What if the signed stuff can't be traced back. Doesn't that affect the hobby?

    It really depends which number you believe - the mentally unstable fraudster or the company that has every interest to minimize the damage. Fanatics implied that they detected the issue around two years ago and changed the hologram, if they are serious about this, they should open up the kimono and show the hobby how to detect.

    The PWCC scandal was probably the largest scale card fraud in the recent hobby and that barely affected transactions.

    Mike
  • MinorLeaguer
    MinorLeaguer Posts: 555 ✭✭✭✭
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    Always a special place in hell for scammers. Just like the fakers, I mean reprinters. Like who was Gem Grading and all their fake cards like this 1986 Randy Johnson

    If you do not follow this card. It's a $1k card currently as a PSA 10 and compare the "8" in the 1986 copyright on the bottom left on the reverse and that it says bats "left" while every West Palm Randy Johnson card I have ever seen that was included in the team set said bats "Right". All legit 1986 Procards have the 1986 copyright just like the ones in the PSA holders. A nice plump ovalish bottom circle of the 8 that is wider than the top oval. Gem grading put these out for all the stars of the day in those 1986 Procards team sets so be aware. For many of the stars that were reprinted, the font on the front is also usually way off.

  • Cubbies1416
    Cubbies1416 Posts: 74 ✭✭✭
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    This is why the vast majority of my autograph collection was obtained in person and submitted for authentication at that convention immediately after getting it signed.

  • coolstanley
    coolstanley Posts: 3,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The wiwag scandal was pretty huge. I wonder how many of those PSA cards are still out there?

    2025 SEC bowl record 4-10

    SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8

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