Scams

The bosses of a Berkshire auction house who defrauded customers of up to £250,000 have been found guilty of nine out of 11 charges.

The boss of Cameo Fine Art Auctioneers near Reading lived the high life, fleecing customers to line his pockets, a jury has heard.

An appeal for a shorter sentence launched by a conman who scammed dealers at fairs across the country has been dismissed.

The trade have alerted ATG to the latest scam guide trying to con dealers into paying thousands of pounds for useless advertising.

Two men will appear for trial at Reading Crown Court on February 3 following the investigation into former Midgham-based Cameo Fine Art Auctioneers.

Three fraudsters have been sentenced for a widespread scam using dud cheques at antiques fairs across the country.

Police have launched an investigation into a suspected fraud centred on a Lincolnshire antiques business.

Olympia organisers Clarion Events have issued a warning to exhibitors after they were targeted by another of the scam guides so often reported on these pages.

A new and alarming scam guide is targeting the trade with demands linked to European Union regulations and focusing on VAT.

Papier-mâché pull-along models of bulldogs and terrier with nodding heads and growling mechanisms were popular amusements in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras – but it seems not all of the examples seen on the market today are quite so old.

The Wine Investment Association has launched its new code of practice to seek to safeguard the general public against fraud, malpractice and misrepresentation.

Scam guides have reared their head again, targeting dealers in a bid to extort large sums of money for useless advertising.

A 66-year-old man who faked the signatures of Winston Churchill and other famous writers was sentenced to ten months in jail at Southampton Crown Court on December 21.

FOLLOWING last week’s front page story regarding allegations of non-payment and irregularities over credit card payments at Cameo Auctions of Midgham, Berkshire, many readers with similar complaints contacted ATG looking for advice.

SCAM guides have struck yet again, but finally the European Commission has launched an investigation and wants to hear from victims about their plight.

EBAY users are being warned of a new scam that targets sellers who allow buyers to collect items in person.

FRENCH auction houses have toughened their stance on Chinese bidders after a series of well-publicised problems with non-payment.

THE case of a hacker who stole more than £180,000 from eBay users has highlighted weaknesses in PayPal’s procedures.

A NEW scam involving a fake PayPal account has come to light after a dealer lost £1200 of stock to an ‘overseas buyer’ who never paid.

AUCTIONEERS and dealers should be wary of an absentee buyer who offers to pay by BACS and then have goods collected by taxi.