Posted By:
JosephI encourage anyone reading this thread--if they haven't already--to read Kevin Nelson's "Operation Bullpen." Obviously, the crackdown and prosecution of the Marino gang was the tip of the iceberg and while investigators recovered thousands and thousands of counterfeit items, many, many more remain scattered throughout the marketplace (and sadly, on people's shelves).
The Marino stuff is very good (for fakes) and continues to appear for sale (sometimes quite innocently) all the time. And then there are the other dozens (hundreds?) of fraudsters whose names we do not know yet.
As I've said before, you need to have a few screws loose to buy an autograph from anyone but a top shelf dealer or friend that you trust. And even then, you should be vigilant.