Have you purchased this Picasso print entitled Françoise Gilot? For your sake I hope not, because it's as phony as a Rolex watch being sold via email. In fact, I hope you haven't bought prints by Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Joan Miró or Roy Lichtenstein from eBay sellers or certain galleries either. On March 21, 2008 law enforcement officials announced that thousands of prints attributed to these and other artists are counterfeit, and have collectively defrauded customers in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan and the US of more than $5 million.

A fraud investigation named "Operation Dealer no Deal" was launched over two and one-half years ago, and involved not only the FBI Art Crime Team but FBI field offices, the US Postal Inspection Service, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, eBay and police departments on two continents. The FBI reported in a press release this past week that the investigation resulted in indictments against seven individuals "allegedly behind two separate but overlapping counterfeit art rings—including art dealers in Illinois, Florida, and New York and distributors in Spain and Italy." Look for lots of trials, convictions and structured restitution plans to ensue.

So, these particular bad guys have been busted, but how does this affect you? What's the impact, here? Well, several things apply:

• First, if you suspect that you or someone you know got conned by suspects named by the FBI, head here and fill out a Fraudulent Art Complaint Referral Form to file with the Northern District of Illinois US Attorney or call the office at (866) 364-2621.


• Remember that this won't be the end of counterfeit art rings. Art theft and fraud is a huge "business" with estimated losses running as high as $6 billion annually. Always be wary and do your homework before purchasing art.


• Remember, too, and especially if you don't know the person/people with whom you're dealing, that pretty much anything can be faked. This includes official-looking documentation of a work's provenance, or history of ownership.


• Not to single out eBay--which I love and frequently use to obtain hard-to-find books--but it's pure lunacy to assume one is legitimately buying the work of Picasso (or any other well-known artist) from an eBay seller. I've been saying this for years. Yes, by all means, buy from living artists who aren't yet household words; they're all over eBay and deserve your patronage. Just do not, under any circumstances, bid on dead artists' works unless the seller can provide you with an iron-clad, money-back, sue-them-pantsless-if-they're-lying guarantee of authenticity. Preferably written in blood and notarized by the Archangel Gabriel. And even then, stop and ask yourself: if this truly is the genuine article, why aren't top auction houses or reputable galleries offering it?


• One final, special note about Dalí prints: don't touch 'em. When Dalí was old, infirm and either (1) senile, (2) doped up on prescription drug cocktails that were given to him or (3) both, his so-called caretakers allegedly had the artist sign thousands of "blanks" -- heavy papers on which future prints (by whomever) could be pulled. While these undoubtedly carry the artist's signature, they do not carry his work. Which is why none of the big auction houses ever offer late Dalí prints, and haven't done so for decades.

Related Reading

• Before You Buy Original Art on eBay
• FBI Chicago Field Division press release