CHICAGO — Watch out for that Cubs memorabilia you're thinking of buying. The FBI warns it might be fake.
“Following the great season the Chicago Cubs just had, counterfeiters may see this time as a good opportunity to take advantage of the fans’ excitement and distribute questionable items to the public," said FBI Chicago Special Agent Brian Brusokas, a member of the FBI’s Art Crimes team which investigates fraud regarding collectibles.
Such items can include autographs and game-used items such as jerseys, bats, balls and caps. This year especially saw a flood of unlicensed t-shirts and other items commemorating the historic Cubs win, Brusokas said.
After the Cubs' long-awaited World Series win, merchandise sellers have experienced a huge boost in sales. According to ESPN, the Cubs' first 24 hours of sales was estimated to generate $70 million in retail sales, making it the most profitable post-game championship market in history.
To prevent purchase of counterfeit gear, the FBI urged consumers to:
• Know the edition size before purchasing any limited edition item like a photo, card set or display item.
• Know what a genuine Cubs on-field gear looks like, and pay close attention to details such as the stitching patterns on nameplates and patches.
• Compare autographed baseballs to photos of signatures of that player, and if the signature has been authenticated, check the qualifications of the authenticator.
• Know who you are buying from and what their refund policy is before your purchase the items.
• Always be mindful that if an item seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by an entity controlled by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
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