How do we stop the flood of “Soviet Archive” photos??

[jacques]

Perhaps someone with the know how (& time) could write an 'ebay guide' /buyers guide to WWII photographs specifically about recognising fakes.

I guess there is something like that in a german forum.

jacques

[johninhb]

Here are some of the flagrant "Soviet Archive" images that are the reason for my first post.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124839400

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124835697

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124837178

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124839249

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124844168

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124844678

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=124845682

And all of these have bids on them! Disgusting Again, I wish that the bidders could be warned, but how?? I tried clicking their ID name to send them a warning, but private messages are blocked by the host site.

Something else that is scary? He has 14 pages of crap for auction, and almost 2700 feedbacks...mostly positive.

This post is a 'public service message' for our new collector friends. Be aware and watch out for this scam.

Take care,
John

PS: In some of this guys auctions, he has the audacity to say that his items will make the collectors "heart leap". Well, his auctions do make my "stomach turn"

[Massimo F.]

I hate those scammers from Ukraine, they copied pictures from books, news reels, they even sold copies of an original photo I have in my collection, they took the image from the website I've bought it from and over the time the sold several copies. If you want to waste some time check their offers over a couple of months and you'll see that the most interesting images (mostly Waffen-SS and U-Boot) are up for sale more than once on multiple accounts. I've seen pictures being sold for over 50$... I reported them to eBay but they did nothing besides since bidders and winner identity are now "secret"
on eBay, these crooks have it easy at stealing money from unaware collectors... maybe we should make a sort of petition, signed up by all of us having an eBay account and sending it to the eBay Police for an immediate actions against this fraud...

[Filip]

...

[Hohenlohe]

Absolutely right, Jacques. Me and some friends work really hard to fight
against the repro seller scum but it's a hard job.
I can't say how I feel when every week new and young collectors share
their new photos and lots of them are fakes. Most are greedy to buy nice
photo motives for small funds and do not inform before buying. But I know
that our informing work is really important because some ebay fake traders
wanted us to stop posting their auctions. We will not stop! Every so called
"Soviet archive photo" which is not sold, is a good "Soviet archive photo".

Regards to all real photo collectors,
Sven.

I guess there is something like that in a german forum.

jacques

[jacques]

I has been scummed by renactor pictures. I avoid former USSR countries photos dealers and their so-called archives. thanks for your great job !

jacques

Absolutely right, Jacques. Me and some friends work really hard to fight
against the repro seller scum but it's a hard job.
I can't say how I feel when every week new and young collectors share
their new photos and lots of them are fakes. Most are greedy to buy nice
photo motives for small funds and do not inform before buying. But I know
that our informing work is really important because some ebay fake traders
wanted us to stop posting their auctions. We will not stop! Every so called
"Soviet archive photo" which is not sold, is a good "Soviet archive photo".

Regards to all real photo collectors,
Sven.

[spaltring]

fake stuff

i had the same experience on ebay i informed ebay about this but no reaction, they ARE ONLY INTRESTED IN CASH thats all we schould start a collectif writing and collect signatures maybe this helps its the same with all the rest prices are increased by so called people but they use fake people and you even cannot see who it is ebay is clever as a matter to protect buyer but thats all bull**** as more people play as bigger their earnings later on i see same items again on ebay sellers reaction... yes but previous buyer didn't pay etc etc
i try to avoid ebay and do it the old way go to antiques collectors fairs there it is what you see is what you get!!!

[paddywhack]

think one just turned up on the estand!!!

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=345718

[paddywhack]

Perhaps someone with the know how (& time) could write an 'ebay guide' /buyers guide to WWII photographs specifically about recognizing fakes.

oh and gerard check this thread out that pinned at the top of the forum section!a great place to start!!

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=153090

[Gary B]

think one just turned up on the estand!!!

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=345718

I was unaware of these. I picked this up at a gun show for a few dollars. I had been told by several people that they were form Soviet Archives.

Thx.

Gary B

[leibermuster]

I am sure the high end pictures get faked and there are many scammers, but it makes no sense not to buy from Europe. All the photos were taken there, why wouldn't they still be there? I buy photos from Ukraine, Russia and other Eastern countries. The pics I buy are absolutely genuine. I am interested in uniform shots, Russian and German troops in everyday poses and vehicle shots. It would make no sense to stage or copy the photos I see.
I believe that dealers in the USA are just as likely to have questionable and mislabeled photos.