How to Find a Great Deal on a (Scam) Artist…

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon 1907, Pablo Picasso

While growing up I was told to watch my P’s and Q’s, but wasn’t told anything about watching my P’s and L’s. Which would have come in handy when purchasing any art from Michael Zabrin.  Chicago’s Zabrin pled guilty on Tuesday of swindling at least 250 people out of over $1 million US by selling them forgeries of Picasso and other artists.  The 57 year old would send away to Spain or Italy for counterfeit limited edition fine art prints and then turn around and sell them for many times what he paid for them to unsuspecting would-be art connoisseurs on eBay.  Zabrin had a sophisticated code with his suppliers which he clearly put a lot of thought and effort into; when he needed fake Picassos he said “I need some P’s” and “I need some L’s” whenever he needed some forged Roy Lichtenstein artwork.  It’s a miracle he was ever caught using that level of intellectual prowess.  In a signed plea agreement with prosecutors Zabrin also recalls the summer of 2004 when he purchased eight counterfeit Chagall’s for $20,000US “which he resold at no less than three times his cost”.  Zabrin pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and will potentially be fined up to $250,000US and may spend up to 20 years in jail.

 If ever you find yourself tempted to buy a great work of art online for a shockingly low price, remember this:   The internet is like an amazing candy store, but somebody always has to be the sucker.

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