A Major Step in Fighting Fraud

Bloomfield, Ct. – History has been made! The Federal Trade Commission and the Professional Show Managers Association (PSMA) have jointly taken a giant step in educating the public about fraud in the world of antiques and collectibles.

A year long crusade, led by PSMA PresidentNancy Johnson and PSMA Board Member Dordy Fontinel, board members of the Professional Show Managers Association, has resulted in the printing and mass distribution of hundreds of thousands of colorful informative bookmarks. Titled “Antiques, How to Shop Wisely”, the educational pieces give bullet points of information to be considered when shopping for antiques.

In addition, Johnson and Fontinel were successful in their request that Consumer Information on Safely Shopping for Antiques and Collectibles be added to the FTC website. The two women spent nearly six months working with the FTC on the specific information that is now available. The recently posted article may be accessed by visiting the FTC.gov website or simply googling FTC antiques.

When PSMA President Nancy Johnson wrote an article in the Association’s Winter 2007 newsletter entitled “When Did It Become OK To Cheat Someone?”, a commentary on our world’s complacency about being defrauded, show promoter Dordy Fontinel responded and began a dialogue with Johnson about the problem of fakes and fraud in the world of antiques and collectibles. This dialogue resulted in Fontinel speaking with Sen. John Warner, subsequent meetings with his staff and the Federal Trade Commission.

In 2008, Fontinel and Johnson met with Jeanne Bumpus, Director of Congressional Affairs at the FTC, and members of the planning and information division of the FTC. Their goal was to have Antiques & Collectibles recognized as “consumer items” and to encourage the FTC to take note of the rampant fraud, which is taking place under the guise of “Antiques”. The FTC agreed and the process began. Knowingly selling a fake is criminal fraud in most states.

PSMA also feels that the bookmarks will provide a convenient opportunity for anyone interested in educating the buying public and fighting the cause. PSMA encourages show promoters, dealers, shop and mall managers, club members, and auctioneers to get involved, therefore PSMA is offering the bookmarks at their cost: $10 for a packet of 200 bookmarks, $25 for a box of 1000. Mail check payable to PSMA to: PSMA Association Offices, P.O. Box 30, Bloomfield CT 06002.

PSMA is a non-profit trade association of consumer show managers, with the majority of its members in the Antiques & Collectible fields.

For more information, contact Mitch Sorensen at PSMA, msorensen@ssmgt.com or PSMA President Nancy Johnson, njohnson@collectorsextravaganza.com.