Signature Fraud

[charlesh9807]

I have a few items to sell which have signatures of living people on them.  Wondering about the possibility of identiity fraud.

I suppose I could scribble or tippex out the signature.

Any thoughts ?

[4_bathrooms]

Are the people concerned celebrities/famous?  

[charlesh9807]

Far from it ! Just regular people.

[4_bathrooms]

Are they things produced by artists (such as paintings)?

[ed_58611]

Here's the eBay help on the subject 

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/faces-names-signatures-policy?id=4291....

[4_bathrooms]

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@ed_58611 wrote:

Here's the eBay help on the subject 

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/faces-names-signatures-policy?id=4291....

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The important part being this:

"Sellers aren't allowed to list an item that has an image (such as a photo), likeness (such as a drawing), name, or signature of another person on it unless the product was made or authorized by that person."

So a painting, sculpture or other such artwork that has been signed by the artist is fine. However, a used postcard signed by the sender - which also shows the recipient's name and address - would not be OK according to that policy.

[charlesh9807]

No, they are books, for example, which have a signature.  Not the author, just the owner.

[dch2112011]

I am guessing the signature is meaningless unless accompanied by identifying information - eg a book signed M Brown  is worthless to anyone - How many M Browns are there  or Mr Singh or Smith or any name come to that.

I imagine an owner signing a book then giving or selling it consents to their signature going with it  unless they scrapped it and it was 'rescued' which may also not be quite legal technically depending on the circumstance

[tressygirl]

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@charlesh9807 wrote:

No, they are books, for example, which have a signature.  Not the author, just the owner.

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Personally,  I would cross out the name neatly,  then in the description and photos show and describe that the page has a name crossed out.  It's not exactly an ' error' but needs to be explained, that there are ' pen marks' in the book.

[*vyolla*]

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@charlesh9807 wrote:

No, they are books, for example, which have a signature.  Not the author, just the owner.

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I can't see that would be a concern.

If it's just a signature with no link to the actual person (i.e. an address) then I can't see why it would be an identity fraud risk. That would be a really random rabbit hole for somebody to go down. 

I've bought lots of books and comics that have a name or signature (when gifted) in them, I've never actually considered that it might be a risk to the previous owners, it's an interesting idea though.

[the-nutwood-collection]

I buy postcards, and many have names and addresses on them.  Some are from the first part of the 20th century, so the sender and recipient have probably passed on.  Others are from the 60s and 70s.  They're never redacted.  I wouldn't buy them if they were, because the data is part of the postcard's history.