jonvespa
New Member
Posts โข 858
Likes โข 204
December 2006
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by jonvespa on Feb 7, 2008 5:41:13 GMT 1, if you bought a hirst from an ebayer in irvine california....today is not your day....sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
IRVINE - An Irvine man is under arrest, accused of making hundreds of thousands of dollars by passing off fake art as the real deal on eBay auctions using two fictitious art houses.
The art on the auction site was offered as the work of Damien Hirst, an English artist who made his mark on the art world as the most prominent of the Young British Artists group. But the three colorful pieces, titled "Valium," "LSD" and "Opium," worth $12,000 to $20,000 each if authentic, were nothing more than imitations, being sold by Vincent Lopreto, 42, of Irvine, said Lt. Rick Handfield of the Irvine Police Department.
Using the names of Whittman Alexander, Pacific Contemporary Art and The Pentagram Galleries, Lopreto racked up more than $300,000 in sales of the impostor pieces on eBay, Handfield said. Lopreto is also suspected of preparing fraudulent certificates of authenticity as a way of covering up the fraud.
Irvine police detectives said they have been able to confirm the $300,000 in losses but believe Lopreto bilked many more art lovers looking for a deal on eBay.
Lopreto was booked at Orange County Jail on Tuesday afternoon, where he is being held in lieu of $350,000 bail.
Anyone with additional information should contact Irvine police detective Matt Ricci at 949-724-7180
article here:
www.ocregister.com/news/art-irvine-lopreto-1974688-police-ebay
if you bought a hirst from an ebayer in irvine california....today is not your day....sorry to be the bearer of bad news. IRVINE - An Irvine man is under arrest, accused of making hundreds of thousands of dollars by passing off fake art as the real deal on eBay auctions using two fictitious art houses. The art on the auction site was offered as the work of Damien Hirst, an English artist who made his mark on the art world as the most prominent of the Young British Artists group. But the three colorful pieces, titled "Valium," "LSD" and "Opium," worth $12,000 to $20,000 each if authentic, were nothing more than imitations, being sold by Vincent Lopreto, 42, of Irvine, said Lt. Rick Handfield of the Irvine Police Department. Using the names of Whittman Alexander, Pacific Contemporary Art and The Pentagram Galleries, Lopreto racked up more than $300,000 in sales of the impostor pieces on eBay, Handfield said. Lopreto is also suspected of preparing fraudulent certificates of authenticity as a way of covering up the fraud. Irvine police detectives said they have been able to confirm the $300,000 in losses but believe Lopreto bilked many more art lovers looking for a deal on eBay. Lopreto was booked at Orange County Jail on Tuesday afternoon, where he is being held in lieu of $350,000 bail. Anyone with additional information should contact Irvine police detective Matt Ricci at 949-724-7180 article here: www.ocregister.com/news/art-irvine-lopreto-1974688-police-ebay |
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Philippe
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,108
Likes โข 300
July 2007
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by Philippe on Feb 7, 2008 7:00:45 GMT 1, Wow that is insane, I'm only in newport beach I wonder if the guy had a collection of real artwork that might appear in a police auction? Keep my eyes open haha 
Wow that is insane, I'm only in newport beach I wonder if the guy had a collection of real artwork that might appear in a police auction? Keep my eyes open haha |
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jam
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,629
Likes โข 31
November 2006
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by jam on Feb 7, 2008 7:38:59 GMT 1, I have been actively looking to purchase Hirst prints for the past year or so and I have seen this guys auctions more than a few times. I emailed about them at one point and he knew what he was talking about, but the prices were just too low for the prints to be authentic. I had seen them listed with the same photos under different IDs and in different CA locations. I also understand there were a couple fakes pulled from a Sothebys NY sale that probably came from this fraudster. FYI, there are many fake Lambada on Gloss Fuji Hirst prints out there, eyestorm needs to inspect your print to make certain its authentic and I wouldn't buy one without having that inspection done yourself as emails and such are simple enough for unscrupulous people to photoshop.
I have been actively looking to purchase Hirst prints for the past year or so and I have seen this guys auctions more than a few times. I emailed about them at one point and he knew what he was talking about, but the prices were just too low for the prints to be authentic. I had seen them listed with the same photos under different IDs and in different CA locations. I also understand there were a couple fakes pulled from a Sothebys NY sale that probably came from this fraudster. FYI, there are many fake Lambada on Gloss Fuji Hirst prints out there, eyestorm needs to inspect your print to make certain its authentic and I wouldn't buy one without having that inspection done yourself as emails and such are simple enough for unscrupulous people to photoshop.
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by Filipino Box Spring Hog on Feb 7, 2008 7:45:09 GMT 1, I saw a few of those auctions myself and remember the named prints going for around $5000 and thinking the same as you Jam, that it was just too good to be true. Glad I never took the plunge on any of those - feel bad for the ones that did - I was defrauded once on ebay - lost over $1000 - the FBI got involved as the seller screwed a lot of people out of money - they gave me a call - I gave them a statement and they didn't really have much in the way of leads but, were trying to figure out who the guy was - he didn't take paypal or bank transfers so it wasn't all that easy - don't know if they ever found him - but, anyway, I feel bad for those people who got screwed by this con artist.
I saw a few of those auctions myself and remember the named prints going for around $5000 and thinking the same as you Jam, that it was just too good to be true. Glad I never took the plunge on any of those - feel bad for the ones that did - I was defrauded once on ebay - lost over $1000 - the FBI got involved as the seller screwed a lot of people out of money - they gave me a call - I gave them a statement and they didn't really have much in the way of leads but, were trying to figure out who the guy was - he didn't take paypal or bank transfers so it wasn't all that easy - don't know if they ever found him - but, anyway, I feel bad for those people who got screwed by this con artist.
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todd
New Member
Posts โข 63
Likes โข 0
December 2007
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by todd on Feb 7, 2008 8:19:18 GMT 1, hey hey, something newsworthy coming out of Irvine. wow. i grew up in Irvine, CA!
what a scumbag this guys is. glad he got busted.
hey hey, something newsworthy coming out of Irvine. wow. i grew up in Irvine, CA!
what a scumbag this guys is. glad he got busted.
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by Backpack Punk on Feb 7, 2008 17:01:32 GMT 1, I almost bought one from him, I noticed the location was Costa Mesa which is about 20 mins from me and he was selling an LSD for 5k. I figured it was a good enough deal to go at least check it out, glad I didn't now. 
I almost bought one from him, I noticed the location was Costa Mesa which is about 20 mins from me and he was selling an LSD for 5k. I figured it was a good enough deal to go at least check it out, glad I didn't now. |
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sjh
New Member
Posts โข 210
Likes โข 1
December 2006
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by sjh on Feb 7, 2008 18:30:08 GMT 1, I bought an Opium from Eyestorm last year. The only way I would have done this was for them to re-issue the COA.
They lost a computer with all the purchaser details on them hence it's so difficult to authenticate.
However, they and John Jones do know how to authenticate these prints (of course they won't tell you). In fact John Jones told me that by using them it's an additional piece of provenance that would help in selling on the secondary market.
John Jones have a policy not to frame anything that they feel is not kosher. The guy who framed mine took about 5 mins to check mine out.
Personally even if a print was more expensive I'd seriously question it. And with Banksy prices already at Hirst level I wouldn;t be suprised if we see more fakes out there.
I bought an Opium from Eyestorm last year. The only way I would have done this was for them to re-issue the COA.
They lost a computer with all the purchaser details on them hence it's so difficult to authenticate.
However, they and John Jones do know how to authenticate these prints (of course they won't tell you). In fact John Jones told me that by using them it's an additional piece of provenance that would help in selling on the secondary market.
John Jones have a policy not to frame anything that they feel is not kosher. The guy who framed mine took about 5 mins to check mine out.
Personally even if a print was more expensive I'd seriously question it. And with Banksy prices already at Hirst level I wouldn;t be suprised if we see more fakes out there.
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Michael Jacob
Artist
Junior Member
Posts โข 2,049
Likes โข 29
October 2006
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by Michael Jacob on Feb 7, 2008 19:44:37 GMT 1, WOW I talked with him quite a few times about buying a print. Am I glad I got cold feet! Thanks for the story!
WOW I talked with him quite a few times about buying a print. Am I glad I got cold feet! Thanks for the story!
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jonvespa
New Member
Posts โข 858
Likes โข 204
December 2006
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by jonvespa on Feb 7, 2008 20:51:05 GMT 1, i lived in irvine during elementary and jr high (bonita canyon and rancho)...two best things out of that city are/were: rage against the machine, and will ferrell, haha.
i lived in irvine during elementary and jr high (bonita canyon and rancho)...two best things out of that city are/were: rage against the machine, and will ferrell, haha.
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todd
New Member
Posts โข 63
Likes โข 0
December 2007
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by todd on Feb 7, 2008 21:31:43 GMT 1, don't forget michelle pheifer....
don't forget michelle pheifer....
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jonvespa
New Member
Posts โข 858
Likes โข 204
December 2006
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any of you buy a hirst from an ebayer in irvine?, by jonvespa on Feb 7, 2008 21:45:00 GMT 1, don't forget michelle pheifer....
i was a turtle rock kid, where's she from?
don't forget michelle pheifer.... i was a turtle rock kid, where's she from? |
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