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Cyber criminals target art and antiques dealers

04 March 2024

Dealers have been targeted by cyber criminals setting up copycat scam sites and tampering with existing websites.

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Trading Standards prosecute couple who faked Cornishware pottery

16 November 2023

Two people selling faked Cornishware pottery have received suspended sentences and ordered to pay £80,000.

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Raid on eBay seller's 'fake medal factory' run from garden shed leaves market reeling

15 June 2020

A trading standards investigation has unearthed a ‘medal factory’ in Derbyshire, sparking the fear that thousands of fake military awards and badges could be in circulation.

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Revised anti-money laundering rules: five tips for auctioneers at the NAVA Forum

15 October 2019

A change to EU law, requiring auction houses, dealers and agents in art and antiques to carry out checks on transactions and customers, will come into force in January 2020 – regardless of Brexit.

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Police appeal for help to trace Frank Auerbach paintings in fraud case

15 April 2019

A police appeal has been launched for the recovery of two Frank Auerbach (b.1931) paintings as part of a fraud investigation.

Scam alert sounded for art and antiques trade as email invoice fraud tops £100m

26 March 2019

The cost to firms of cyber fraudsters' invoice scams reached nearly £100m in 2018 and small businesses, such as those in the art and antiques trade, remain vulnerable, according to the latest report.

Art and antiques trade warned of cyber fraudsters’ email invoice scam

06 November 2017

The insurance industry has again warned the art and antiques trade to be alert to a scam from fraudsters targeting galleries and dealers via emailed invoices.

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Celebrity art dealer jailed for ‘Thomas Crown’ style thefts

13 September 2017

An art dealer has been jailed for the theft of £500,000 worth of paintings.

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Scam listings guides resurface

28 August 2017

Dealers and auctioneers are again being targeted by scam guides that seek to extort large sums of money in return for inclusion in worthless trade listings.

Shop owners warned over car parts scam

26 June 2017

London art and antiques galleries have been alerted to a scam that has seen at least four dealers preyed on by tricksters.

Auctioneers warned to check address to avoid scam

22 May 2017

Auctioneers are again being warned to check addresses with shippers following reports of bidding scams.

My solution to the issue of email scams

10 April 2017

In April dealers and auctioneers were warned to be vigilant about invoice scams on email after fraudsters appeared to have hacked accounts and intercepted invoices. Here one dealer makes a suggestion to help prevent such fraud.

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Trade alert: watch out for cyber crime

05 April 2017

Firms urged to be aware of risk after string of email invoice frauds

Warning of cyber fraudsters targeting dealers and auctioneers

27 March 2017

An insurance firm has sounded a warning about cyber fraudsters who appear to be targeting dealers and auctioneers with an invoice scam.

Antiques trade targeted by scam guides again

21 January 2016

Dealers are again being targeted by scam guides that seek to extort large sums of money in return for inclusion in worthless trade listings.

Ex-CEO charged over antiques sales: dealer implicated

11 September 2015

An American businessman has been charged in a New York court accused of applying improper valuations to items sold from his art and antiques collection.

Art dealer sentenced for paintings fraud

24 July 2015

An art dealer from Cornwall has been sentenced after pleading guilty to seven counts of fraud relating to the sale of fake paintings, including works he claimed were by Alfred Wallis (1855-1942).

Mayfair art agent accused of multi-million-pound swindle

10 July 2015

Mayfair art agent Timothy Sammons is facing a string of legal claims over soured multi-million-pound deals in the United Kingdom and the United States involving paintings by Van Gogh, Canaletto, Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani and Magritte.

Dealer admits selling fake Cornish paintings

29 June 2015

Art dealer David Carter has admitted intentionally selling fake paintings purporting to be by well-known Cornish artists. He has pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud at Truro crown court and may face jail.

Cameo duo’s convictions go to appeal

30 March 2015

Two of the three people sentenced for their role in the Cameo auction house fraud have lodged appeals against their convictions.