Patch forger... caught! gomaz would be proud ;)

[meatmancgy]

Patch forger... caught!

This investigation by HI members has been ongoing for awhile now. Having evidence is always critical in finding a true forger, and we now have substantial enough information to send to eBay, Upper Deck and the RCMP, along with the eBay members who bought his forged cards. This is not defined as "fraud", but "forgery", under the Criminal Code of Canada. It will be interesting to see how this moves forward, but for now... this forger is CAUGHT.

Using at least two eBay IDs, this person has done several questionable purchases, forgeries and re-sells; however, I am showing ONLY those fake patch cards that are bulletproof obvious. There are about a dozen other auctions we have been watching... waiting for forged versions to show up. In some cases, he bought, forged & sold the cards under the same user ID (hnic_787); in other cases, he sold under the second ID (kao_seneca), likely to try and cover some tracks. His note in his auctions at the bottom says “I am a new Ebay seller, but I am honest and will try my best to provide the best service possible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, Bid with confidence! THANKS!” Honest, eh?

eBay contact information for one of the usernames, provided by an HI member, shows his full name & address; the other is listed under another name. After being provided emails from two different HI members on two different occasions, we were able to source the IP addresses of both eBay IDs, which are identical. As well, those IP addresses are linked directly to an HI membership IP address. Interestingly, the cell phones linked to both members’ eBay accounts were registered at the same cell phone shop in downtown Toronto. Just another nail in the coffin.

Here is the information we have to share:

Some evidence showing the two eBay IDs are likely the same person. Notice the way these somewhat identical cards are detailed:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280320483252 “06/07 UD The CUP SIG AUTO/PATCH JEREMY ROENICK /75 5-CL”

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170329622285 “UD The CUP SIGNATURE AUTO/PATCH JEREMY ROENICK /75 5-CL”



EVIDENCE:

(Note - due to the timing of this post, some of the eBay links may have surpassed the timeframe to view - however, I do have saved eBay pages on each and every item below)


07/08 The Cup Limited Logos Evgeni Malkin 21/25
Original Scan

Link to Original eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220369075331

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/07-08-UD-The-CUP-LIMITED-LOGOS-AUTO-PATCH-MALKIN-25-4C_W0QQitemZ170329804511



06/07 The Cup Rookie Patch/Auto Shea Weber 221/249
Original Scan

Link to Original eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220363089710

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/06-UD-The-CUP-Rookie-AUTO-PATCH-SHEA-WEBER-RC-249-5-CL_W0QQitemZ170330830808



07/08 The Cup Signature Patches Patrick Kane 31/75
Original Scan

Link to Original eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...30990&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sacat=See-All-Categories&_naf=1&_fvi=1&_rdc=1



06/07 The Cup Rookie Auto Patch Thomas Kopecky 146/249
Original Scan

Link to Original eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sacat=See-All-Categories&_naf=1&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sacat=See-All-Categories&_naf=1&_fvi=1&_rdc=1



06/07 The Cup Rookie Auto Patch Nigel Dawes 211/249
Original Scan

Link to Original eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150326457987

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sacat=See-All-Categories&_naf=1&_fvi=1&_rdc=1



07/08 OPC Premier Quad Patch Mikka Kiprusoff 15/20
Original Scan

Link to Original eBay Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120384082415

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sacat=See-All-Categories&_naf=1&_fvi=1&_rdc=1



SOLD BY ANOTHER EBAY SELLER, BUT CONFIRMED THE CARD WAS PURCHASED FROM THIS PERSON PRIOR TO THIS SALE

07/08 The Cup Limited Logos Patrice Bergeron 41/50
Original Scan (zoomed in image provided from original seller)

Link to Original eBay Auction, purchased by this person:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190290449431

Altered Scan

Link to Altered eBay Auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/08-THE-CUP-P-Bergeron-5C-Limited-Logos-Auto-Patch-50_W0QQitemZ370193653533


One thing I need to make ABUNDANTLY clear... the Bergeron faked card, and some others that may pop up at a later date, were sold by this eBay seller in person at card shows and through shops to unsuspecting buyers. In the case of Bergeron, I talked directly with the seller of the bear-patch, and he confirmed who he bought from and was flabbergasted that the card was fake. Please ensure you understand there are innocent bystanders throughout this mess.

If any of you have been purchasers from either of these two eBay user IDs, please email me with the card scans and I can provide them to the appropriate parties. Thanks for the HI members who made most of these findings!!

Bruce

 

[Boom Boom]

Yep.....this was the guy i posted about late last year who was selling alot of multi color 05/06 Spx rc's online under the kao seneca id. Glad this fraud artist has been exposed for what he really is. When I see so many faked patch cards flying around it makes my stomach turn........

this scumbag is still in business online too.....here's a current auction....

http://cgi.ebay.com/05-06-UD-Artifa...yZ166761QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

here's hoping the Feds drop their ticket books and actually so something about this......

 

[wildfan1833]

WOW what some people will do to get more money

 

[Burner]

Glad this scammer is about to get what he has coming to him.

I must say however that those are pretty impressive fakes.

In most cases, it's easy to spot a fake, but if I had one of his cards on hand, how would I be able to know? Are there any signs I should look for?

 

[JohnnyDrama]

He seems up and down with his work. Some are impressive, others are just laughable.

 

[cassijon]

Good Job Bruce And The Rest Of The Hi Detectives!!! No Place In The Hobby For This ***

 

[solominic_knight]

Good job ... i think i almost bid on that Kipper too .. :S

 

[KJ555]

Wow, I don't post often but this issue is definitely worth posting about.

I never would've thought some of these cards were fake but I guess the evidence is there. I still don't believe some cards cards are fake especially with NO damage whatsoever. For example, how the HECK do you mess around with that Kiprusoff card?!?! That card is looks mint!

What about the other cards though? The 2 Jeremy Roenick Cup patches don't have any proof. Other than that...I still can't believe my eyes! Yikes...

 

[koondog44]

Am I reading it right that the person is a member here? If so..what is his id. I'd remember people on here FAR easier than from Ebay transactions.

I wish you well (or whomever is pursuing this), but in all honesty, do you see the anyone really caring? I highly doubt (though I may be wrong) that Upper Deck cares enough to pursie it.

I had a guy nailed with theft of cards from me and had so much evidense (10+ pages) that the cops laughed at how stupid the fellow was. As soon as it hit court...DROPPED. No time for hockey cards in court. That's when I lost faith in trying to get justice the legal way from these people

I don't mean to sound like a pessimist (sp), and I do applaud those who figured this out. HOPEFULLY this time something will happen to the criminals.

 

[OilersRule]

I almost bid on the Nash myself, but something in my stomach told me there was something fishy with this seller.....well now we know the truth.

I sure hope this person gets charged, because they deserve it!

 

[jaderock]

Excellent detective work...that said, the card companies generally don't care about what happens after the cards are sold. There are many ways to protect the customers from fake patches, but the manufacturers don't bother/care. It can be done, but it will not happen.

 

[meatmancgy]

There are about another dozen questionable cards (i.e. the patches are just TOO nice).

I am sending this info to all appropriate parties. eBay already has an email to Trust & Safety. I'm also sending to Upper Deck as I type this.

 

[meatmancgy]

Interestingly, after the investigation started and some questions were starting to be asked, hnic_787 moved their feedback from public to private...

 

[Shamrock1957]

I have Seen this Ebayer

Sorry for Your Losses and Here is Hoping ACTION will be taken..

 

[punkoholic]

Nice work. That piece of garbage ruined a Nash 1/1 Glad I stayed away from that auction a couple of weeks ago.

 

[deankal]

Quite a few people off of HI have actually bought from this guy using his 2 eBay id's....
It's important that all info about these cards that people have purchased off of him goes to Bruce and we'll see what happens from there.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Upper Deck see it "FIT" to go after him and make an example out of this guy as it really does affect the hobby in the wrong way!!
But is it ever nice to see someone get nailed like this with soooo much proof!!

 

[delacroixandora]

i think it should be made known what the user name is here on HI... whether it is here in the thread or via a mass pm...

 

[go_leafs]

I dont even know if i should say anything here, because i know the seller personally, i can say we are actually good friends

I am shocked after I saw this and I dont know what to say about it, I can say he is a honest, good guy in person

I will try to get a hold of him in the next couple of days and see what he says, i hope he will step up and post on here

 

[meatmancgy]

i think it should be made known what the user name is here on HI... whether it is here in the thread or via a mass pm...

For legal reasons, I won't do that. The eBay IDs are enough to show him he's been caught.

 

[tragicallynik]

You know ... maybe UD should hire him ... could be the end of solid white patches!!


In all seriousness ... nice investigative work and I hope something comes out of your efforts