Groupauthentics.com
 

I'm still on my mission to rid the board of the rash of Bo Jackson forgeries on ebay. (It's a losing battle, I know.) Came across this winner last night, reported it to ebay, and it is still around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:RTQ:US:1123

But that isn't the point of this post. I asked the seller since he had gotten it in person where did the hologram come from?

Here is his response word for word: "hi, I got them tested at groupauthentics.com, there's a company they own there...thanks".

Tested? Any ways, here is groupauthentics.com website.

http://www.groupauthentics.com/index.html

This is my favorite part of the four page website.

http://www.groupauthentics.com/about-us.html

"When ever we attain a picture or movie of the autograph signing, we include them with our C.O.A. or our auditors C.O.A's listed below."

"Worldwide Premium Dealers Authentication; Franklin, ID
Cherish Autographs LTD; Madison, WI
Premium Autographs LLC; San Jose, CA
Celebrity Autographs; Hollywood, CA
Royal Premium Authentication; Chicago, IL
All Sports Arena; Miami, FL
Alchemy Autographs; London, England
World Autographs; Belfast, Ireland
American Autographs LLC; Scarsdale, NY
Waddington House; Greenwich, CT
Carol J. Johnson Authentics; Quebec, Canada"

"All are certified or licensed in their state/country of residence."

I already checked, none of those companies actually exist. But I am sure you already knew that.

But good news for those who don't want to spend money on postage. They have a four step authentication process that can be done via email.

http://www.groupauthentics.com/contact-us.html

"Authenticity is the first priority when purchasing your hand signed collectibles and celebrity autographs. At GroupAuthentics.com we take the guess work out of authenticity for you. We have a 4-step process in order to ensure that our celebrity autographs verified genuine are 100% guaranteed original, authentic autographs Once our celebrity autographs arrive from our in person collectors the items are than individually examined for quality and condition by an GroupAuthentics.com representative."

Who wouldn't trust these guys?

I previously noted at least 20 ebay ID's who sell similar fakes to the Bo Jackson example above. Each of the ID's has their own way of listing. Some have LOA's, some don't. One even goes so far as to say contact us if you are looking for anything in particular because they may have it. Of course they will, an autograph request is just a pen stroke away.

Good job ebay. You just keep lowering the bar for yourself. You are quickly becoming (or have already become) the next Coaches Corner.

And if you are curious what exactly the four step process is, this appears to be it.

"Each signature reviewed undergoes either a industry data match comparison against known verified markings of said celebrity or from our own excellent data library. Signatures are analyzed based on size to width, pressure gradient, slant, pause, pressure, and over all shape."

Bet you didn't realize that in order for an autograph to be authentic it's shape needs to match industry data among other things.

that one's gone.

Ken

The first link is dead but the listing is still active.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Royals-BO-JA...81139994650%26

Look at his listing name. You want those 'authentically' signed baseballs? Let me know, I have them by the truckloadzz.....

These are professional group of eBay scammers formerly known as "The Auto Scouts", I have been fighting/exposing them for several months now.

Their "newest scheme" is to write "Pre-Certified PSA/DNA" in the title. Here is a thread I wrote about this:

http://live.autographmagazine.com/fo...ource=activity

My original "The Auto Scouts" theme caused mass panic among them, they no longer use that name/COA and even changed their website crying wolf.

http://live.autographmagazine.com/fo...mment%3A441327

I love that one auditor they have - Alchemy Autographs; London, England.
What's their slogan, "we turn crap in to gold"? ;)

Lol. :D

But ebay has a link at the very bottom of listing in the autograph category.

http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Deter...p2047675.m2468

Perhaps this is their way of washing their hands of the issue. "Well if you would have read the guide we provided you would have realized the item you bought on our site was junk."

Apologies to the ebay newbies but, once again, if you buy from someone with only 4 feedbacks, you are getting what you asked for.