Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Forged Art on eBay
Man accused of selling at least $300K worth of forged art on Ebay
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/06/2008 02:55:20 AM PST
IRVINE, Calif.—Police have arrested a 42-year-old man who they say made at least $300,000 auctioning off art forgeries on eBay.
Forty-two-year-old Vincent Lopreto is accused of selling imitations of works by English artist Damien Hirst that would be worth up to $20,000 apiece if authentic.
Lt. Rick Handfield said detectives have confirmed $300,000 in sales of bogus works by Lopreto, but they suspect he has bilked many more online customers, giving them fraudulent certificates of authenticity along with the fake art.
Lopreto was booked at the Orange County Jail on Tuesday and held in lieu of $350,000 bail.
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/06/2008 02:55:20 AM PST
IRVINE, Calif.—Police have arrested a 42-year-old man who they say made at least $300,000 auctioning off art forgeries on eBay.
Forty-two-year-old Vincent Lopreto is accused of selling imitations of works by English artist Damien Hirst that would be worth up to $20,000 apiece if authentic.
Lt. Rick Handfield said detectives have confirmed $300,000 in sales of bogus works by Lopreto, but they suspect he has bilked many more online customers, giving them fraudulent certificates of authenticity along with the fake art.
Lopreto was booked at the Orange County Jail on Tuesday and held in lieu of $350,000 bail.
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