[MSN] Man accused of selling at least $300K worth of forged art on Ebay

[MSN]

Posted on Wed, Feb. 06, 2008
Man accused of selling at least $300K worth of forged art on Ebay

last updated: February 06, 2008 03:01:52 AM
IRVINE, Calif. -- ]

Police have arrested a 42-year-old man who they say made at least $300,000
auctioning off art forgeries on eBay.

Forty-two-year-old Vincent Lopreto is accused of selling imitations of works
by English artist Damien Hirst that would be worth up to $20,000 apiece if
authentic.

Lt. Rick Handfield said detectives have confirmed $300,000 in sales of bogus
works by Lopreto, but they suspect he has bilked many more online customers,
giving them fraudulent certificates of authenticity along with the fake art.

Lopreto was booked at the Orange County Jail on Tuesday and held in lieu of
$350,000 bail.

http://www.modbee.com/