Fox News 19 Cincinnati Explores The Hidden World of Counterfeit Memorabilia in Charity Auctions

We wanted to share an eye-opening investigation from Cincinnati's Fox 19 News about fake autographs showing up at high-profile charity auctions.

Across the United States, charity fundraisers often feature high-end items like autographed memorabilia to attract donors. However, investigations have revealed that many of these items are counterfeit, with experts estimating that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fake memorabilia are sold annually through charitable events.

Watch the Fox19 News story about fake memorabilia (opens in new tab)

Link to video and full story

A Case Study: The Rusty Ball

One notable example is the Rusty Ball, a major fundraiser in Cincinnati benefiting 162 local charities. The event has featured autographed items purportedly signed by music legends such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Pink Floyd, and Guns N' Roses. Items like guitars and framed albums were sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars each.

However, upon expert examination, many of these items were determined to be forgeries. Steve Cyrkin, editor and publisher of Autograph Magazine has studied signatures for more than a decade, starting as a collector before becoming publisher and editor. He reviewed several pieces and concluded that none of the signatures were genuine. Despite certificates of authenticity accompanying the items, the experts found discrepancies in the signatures' slant, shape, and sizing.

They flew Roger Epperson considered the world's top authenticator of modern music autographsfrom his home in Houston to Cincinnati, then had donors bring to the studio ten items they had bought at the Rusty Ball so Epperson could inspect them before rendering his opinion. All the items failed his examination.

The Scale of the Problem

The issue isn't isolated to a single event. Nationally, counterfeit memorabilia infiltrates charity auctions, often accompanied by forged certificates of authenticity. Charities, relying on the trustworthiness of their suppliers, unknowingly sell these fake items to well-meaning donors.

Charity Auctions Are Not Immune

In 2014, Fox-19 exposed fake signed guitars and band-signed memorabilia at Rusty Ball, a Cincinnati charity auction. Expert opinion unanimously declared many items fake—despite COAs included with the pieces.

COAs Alone Aren’t Proof

Both Steve Cyrkin (Autograph Magazine) and Roger Epperson (Christie’s/PSA) confirmed that certificates of authenticity (COAs) accompanying the items were worthless. As Epperson put it, “The letter of authenticity is only as good as the person who put their name on it.”

Red Flags to Watch For

Item gets widely available inexplicably (e.g. entire band-signed guitar at charity auction).
COA from unknown or discredited sources.
Prices that seem too good to be true for high-profile names.
Lack of traceable authentication or history.

Buy Smart—Not Scammed

If you’re buying autographs online or at auctions, especially in charity settings, protect yourself:

Stick to trusted authenticators like ACOA, PSA/DNA, JSA, or BAS.
Look for tangible provenance or in-person acquisition.
Be wary of COAs—especially generic ones that cannot be independently verified.
When in doubt, reach out to experts.
Trust Your Instincts: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

By staying informed and vigilant, collectors can enjoy their passion while avoiding the pitfalls of counterfeit memorabilia

Or just buy from us and never worry.