'Ancient' statues fraud foiled by fake paperwork
A fraudster named Andrew Crowley attempted to sell fake ancient statues to Sotheby's, but was caught due to modern printing methods used in his fake paperwork. The court found that Crowley had inherited the statues but dishonestly represented their authenticity. He received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to complete community service and pay costs.
- ▪Andrew Crowley tried to sell bogus ancient statues to Sotheby's between November 2022 and July 2023.
- ▪Forensic analysis revealed that the fake paperwork was created using printing methods from 2001, not 1976 as claimed.
- ▪Crowley was sentenced to a two-year suspended prison term and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
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'Ancient' statues fraud foiled by fake paperwork10 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMetropolitan PoliceAndrew Crowley tried to sell statues to Sotheby's auction house between November 2022 and July 2023A fraudster who tried to sell bogus ancient statues to Sotheby's was foiled when his fake accompanying paperwork was found to be written with printing methods that were 25 years too modern, a court heard.Andrew Crowley, 46, of Longwell Green, Gloucestershire, asked the auction house to value three Cycladic figures and an Anatolian stargazer statuette he had inherited from his grandfather.He had presented fake invoices that purported to be written in 1976 - but forensics found they were made using printing methods invented in 2001.Crowley, who admitted dishonestly making a false…
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