Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay (Paperback)

by Kenneth Walton (Author) "On a clear day, from my twenty-eighth-floor office, I could see the Sacramento River slithering down the valley in slow motion..." (more)
Key Phrases: San Francisco, New York, Fitz Gibbon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In November 1998, Walton was a bored, unproductive 31-year-old Sacramento attorney when a "boorish" army buddy, Ken Fetterman, showed him his eBay art auctions on the Internet, gave him a five-minute tutorial on "the world's largest flea market" and cut Walton in on an auction that doubled his $400 investment. Soon Walton was frequenting thrift stores, making shill bids to raise the price on his own and Fetterman's auctions and selling paintings with signatures he strongly suspected were doctored by Fetterman, even allowing one buyer to think he'd landed a Giacometti. When Walton forges Richard Diebenkorn's signature on a painting that auctions for $135,805 in May 2000, the result is front-page coverage in the New York Times and an FBI investigation. The amoral slacker loses friends, lovers and his law license. eBay bans him for life; he pleads guilty to a felony and gets probation. Walton is humbled but gains a conscience, a pure love of art and a passion for computer programming. This engrossing morality tale is also a primer on how to commit Internet fraud, an indictment of eBay and its lackadaisical attitudes about crime, as well as a sad commentary on society where art is a commodity to be bought sight unseen by the greedy and foolish. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
"Fake is the real deal -- a vivid and illuminating sprint through the murky waters of online auctions, greed, and the makings of a con. Kenneth Walton's story is rapid-fire read for all, and a compelling primer for anyone thinking of buying or selling something valuable over the Internet."

-- Franz Wisner, New York Times bestselling author of Honeymoon with My Brother

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416948058
• ISBN-13: 978-1416948056
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #94,515 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #17 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Business & Culture > Biographies
  #27 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Museums & Collections > Business of Art
  #29 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Business & Culture > eBay

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a suspense thriller - not just a book about eBay, May 16, 2006

By	Harold Hawkins "Harold" (Orlando, happiest place on earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay (Hardcover)

I bought this book because I'm a powerseller on eBay, and I thought it sounded like an interesting story. But let me tell you, it's far more than just a story about unethical selling on eBay. This book reads like a thriller, and is difficult to put down. It's a crazy story about a somewhat ordinary guy who is unhappy with his job and is desperate to try something different. A lot of us can relate to that. His problem is that the "something" he tries (eBay) tastes so unbelievably good that he gets hooked on it immediately, and then when he discovers that it is rotten inside, he can't stop eating it, even though he knows it's bad for him.

This leads to some rather dire consequences. You can't believe what this guy goes through, and you wonder how he survived. In the end, he not only survives, but thrives, and it's inspiring to watch him get there.

The writing is not dry or boring at all, and reads like a great novel. He weaves his own crazy story with interesting facts about eBay, the art world, and the criminal justice system. I should say this: This book is not just for eBay users. This is a story ANYone could enjoy and relate to. I challenge you to to try and tear yourself away from it once you start.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a tell-all, May 19, 2006

By	Gail Wiggums (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay (Hardcover)

Once I began this extraordinary book, I could not put it down. Whether you are an art buff, addicted to ebay or simply relish a great story, you can't go wrong. Not often a fan of non fiction, I'm inspired to seek out other works.

If the book is lacking anything, it's that I wish it had been longer. Highly recommend.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So many lessons in one book.... where to start?, October 26, 2006

By	D. Smith (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay (Hardcover)

I am a high end art collector at major auctions and have looked at ebay items up for sell. So many are obviously fakes that I have written to a couple of power sellers. They immediately threatened to sue me.

However, that is not why I am writing this review. This is a story of someone who knew nothing about art but was slowly engulfed in a new world where profit opportunity was high and old rules no longer applied. The individual involved acted like a major corporation in slowly bending the rules until they no longer believed the old rules or thought they could not possible be caught.

I think the story should be read by every corporate executive in America. It shows how easy it is to justify going 65 in a 55 zone and then occasionally speeding up to 85 when you think no one cares that you are going over the speed limit.

It is also an inspirational tale. I am very impressed with the author and how he changed his life around.

I would also recommend this book to anyone buying or selling on ebay. It is unbelievable how some of the items are marketed there. Ebay is not incented to police it to the degree they should. Buyer beware. At least for sure, I can tell you the art is not what you think it is!

This is a fast read .. get it.