Joe Mator wrote:

Hi,

I was sold a fake Guy Wiggins painting on Ebay by a seller from Florida. I sent the painting to 
Guy A. Wiggins, the son of the artist and recognized expert on his works. Mr. Wiggins 
declared it an outright forgery.

I have contacted the seller by email. The seller has not responded for two days. What are my 
options in addition to the negative feedback that I will surely give? This seems like a crime to 
me. In addition, I regularly run across the same sellers on Ebay who sell obvious fakes in 
almost all of their listings. It disgusts me because of the negative impact it is having on art 
collectors, dealers, the art market and legitimate Ebay sellers such as myself. The market is 
being flooded with these fakes. I don't understand how these people are allowed to stay in 
operation? Almost every piece they sell is a fake Renoir, Monet, Dali, Chagall, Pollock, you 
name it. I am not an art expert, just a somewhat knowledgable collector. It is obvious to me 
that no one has this many original master paintings, each with it's own deficiency or lack of 
proficiency. 

While the seller that sold me the Wiggins fake is not as obvious and prolific at selling fakes as 
some of the others, I am tired of getting burned on Ebay. Ebay does nothing to police their 
site, and in most cases sides with the sellers to protect their revenue.

Joe Mator
________________________________________________________________

Subject: renoir.
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2004 15:32:50 +0000
From: "Sylvain H
To: [email protected]

It dosen't seems to be the real one hmmm??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=553&item=4143941177&rd=1
Have a great day! Thank's for your excellent job!
Sylvain Hogue,  Canada. 
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Subject:Picasso ????????
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 13:26:38 +0100 (CET)

To: <[email protected]>

Hi Guys,
I am a retailer in all things retro and I specialize in post war art
glass. Over the last 6-8 weeks I have been watching an eBay trader who
trades under the name of chrism121 and questioning the validity of signed
glass he has been listing. I have been in contact with the seller and
eBay, yet still he gets away with this fraud.
I have also noticed that he has sold several signed Picasso pieces. He has
an item listed now # 3708658871. I know nothing about art but I guess he
is scamming with the art too.
I shall await your reply
Al Baynham