Bill Mastro denies widespread fraud in his auctions -- yesterday.

[calvindog]

http://haulsofshame.com/blog/?p=2454...comment-308922

Mastro seems to think that because his customers have not written to his judge already about his fraud that somehow he is absolved from the mountain of evidence of shill bidding against him -- and his own admissions of shill bidding in court yesterday. He also blames me apparently for his problems.

Bill, I know that you're aware that the people on this board do not have access to the records which show your years of shill bidding then. Had they seen these clear records they would be more outraged. Just because your customers have not written to the judge does not mean you did not rip them off. As your lawyers have all of these records, I'd invite you to publicly post them so that the bidders will know exactly what you did to them.

And blaming me for your problems is despicable and clearly shows you have not accepted full responsibility for your crimes. Just because I haven't met you doesn't mean I can't dislike you and what you did. I've seen the evidence of your guilt, I've read your allocution in court and I've also litigated against you -- and won. You're a disgrace and I hope that the members of this board finally get off their asses and do what you basically dared them to do: tell the judge what you really are.

[calvindog]

haulsofshame.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Mastro-responds.jpg

[ullmandds]

how would I even know if I was the victim of shill bidding in one of Bills auctions?

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

how would I even know if I was the victim of shill bidding in one of Bills auctions?

+1....

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

how would I even know if I was the victim of shill bidding in one of Bills auctions?

According to Bill, if you didn't write a letter to his judge decrying how he shilled you -- then you apparently weren't shilled.

[Peter_Spaeth]

From Hauls of Shame, probably not worth much....

Sources indicate that the government’s biggest target could be authentication giant Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), the company that graded the Wagner card for Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky after they purchased it at Sotheby’s in 1991. The Wagner was the first card ever graded by the company and its founder David Hall.

[Leon]

Even though I have considered Bill a hobby friend, and understand I was shill bid, I didn't have the amount of disrespect towards him which I do now, until I read his statement. That statement accepts no responsibility of his misdeeds. He caused his own problems, no one else. He really needs to accept responsibility for his actions. I find his statement disgusting. There were 2 letters? I can guarantee there will be at least 3 by the end of the day today. Nice work Jeff.

[Peter_Spaeth]

According to the information to which Mastro apparently pleaded guilty, after the Code of Conduct was published in 2007 by Doug, Mastro Auctions "caused restoration work to be done on trading cards sold by Mastro Auctions, and knowingly failed to disclose that restoration work to bidders." I wonder if we will ever know which cards were involved? Likely not.

[cincyredlegs]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

From Hauls of Shame, probably not worth much....

Sources indicate that the government’s biggest target could be authentication giant Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), the company that graded the Wagner card for Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky after they purchased it at Sotheby’s in 1991. The Wagner was the first card ever graded by the company and its founder David Hall.

Maybe it is pure coincidence, but I wonder if this is why Don Spence is retiring his sets and selling?

Mark

[sylbry]

Originally Posted by calvindog

http://haulsofshame.com/blog/?p=2454...comment-308922

Mastro seems to think that because his customers have not written to his judge already about his fraud that somehow he is absolved from the mountain of evidence of shill bidding against him -- and his own admissions of shill bidding in court yesterday. He also blames me apparently for his problems.

Bill, I know that you're aware that the people on this board do not have access to the records which show your years of shill bidding then. Had they seen these clear records they would be more outraged. Just because your customers have not written to the judge does not mean you did not rip them off. As your lawyers have all of these records, I'd invite you to publicly post them so that the bidders will know exactly what you did to them.

And blaming me for your problems is despicable and clearly shows you have not accepted full responsibility for your crimes. Just because I haven't met you doesn't mean I can't dislike you and what you did. I've seen the evidence of your guilt, I've read your allocution in court and I've also litigated against you -- and won. You're a disgrace and I hope that the members of this board finally get off their asses and do what you basically dared them to do: tell the judge what you really are.

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...ard-companies/

Having trouble reconciling this. How can someone excoriate one hobby fraud while defending another hobby fraud?

[drcy]

Logically speaking (In response to "But I won a lot below my maximum bid"):

I never understand why people think an auction house that is shilling and believe that their shilling could be illegal would shill to the max bid all lots. That would be the easiest way to arouse suspicious and get caught. Shilling is an covert operation, and they would never (except on eBay, home to many idiots) be so obvious and blatant to bid to the max bid everything.

I mean, if someone wins 20 lots over two auctions and all 20 lots are won at his exact maximum bid, he'll come straight to Net54 or PSA boards and complain loudly. If instead 6 of the lots are won below his maximum bids, he'll post in a thread "I don't believe that auction house shills, because I've won some lots below my maximum." And he may have been shilled in both scenarios. It's just that the first scenario involved an auction house that was really stupid.

Also, and as often been said, shilling is likely often from consignors and their helpers who probably have no knowledge about the maximum bids.

In fact, I would guess some shilling comes from neither the auction houses or consignors, but collectors who want to keep the 'market value' for cards they own at a good price.

The best way to counter shilling on a personal level is to regularly sell items so you know what the items are really worth when you go to bid (i.e. what you can sell them for) and not rely on auction prices and all that. All that matters resale-wise is what you can sell an item for. If you sold a card twice for $15 on eBay, you won't be so ignorant to bid $120 for one in auction. And regular sellers are the ones who know when something in auction is a good value, or sometimes even a steal.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by sylbry

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...ard-companies/

Having trouble reconciling this. How can someone excoriate one hobby fraud while defending another hobby fraud?

Bryan, who are you referring to?

Edited to add: oh, now I see the link on the bottom. Bryan, did you actually read the article you linked? First, do you think that as an attorney I condone the actions of my clients? Do you think I stand in front of a judge and defend criminal actions? And did you miss the part of the article in which it makes clear that my client cooperated with the government to stop fraud in the hobby? I guess that part escaped you.

[ethicsprof]

excellent point.
obviously, arch was the older brother.
all the best,
barry

[atx840]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Bill, it's good to see you posting, and that was an EXCELLENT one...with no editing!!!

+1

I can't even type one line without editing it.