Fake Certificates

**HenryT** · Posted On: 6/08/2011 2:47pm

I want to draw people's attention to this outfit:

http://www.fittoprintstore.com/main.sc

Not only do they offer fake martial arts certificates; some of the blank certificates offered look like straightforward forgeries. Here, for example, is what purports to be a Japan Karate Association Certificate signed by Nakahara Nobuyuki and Sugiura Motokuni:

http://www.fittoprintstore.com/image...ATE%20ASSN.jpg

Here is a Goju certificate supposedly signed by Yamaguchi Gogen:

http://www.fittoprintstore.com/images/yamaguchi.jpg

Surely this is more than just dodgy: it's criminal fraud, isn't it? Has anyone else come across this?

OK: so they're "replacement" certificates because the original got eaten by the dog (and the original awarding organization won't replace it?) - and that's not illegal. I've a mind to buy one of these offerings, just to see what they do to check out that I'm actually entitled to a certificate signed by Yamaguchi Gogen!

Maybe the real organizations should be alerted to this?

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 6/08/2011 3:27pm

Yes, they actually came up in another thread because of a Military fraudster.

**kitkatninja** · Posted On: 6/09/2011 1:18am

Or can you imagine a not-so-reputable school, "grading" students then giving them these?

-Ken

**HenryT** · Posted On: 6/09/2011 5:49pm

Giving out certificates "signed" by somebody who never actually signed them just has to be a criminal offense. It's just plain forgery, surely. How can it be stopped? And, yes, the guy is selling fake certs of military service too, which is even worse. I can't find where he's operating out of, but it ought to be possible to get him kicked off of Ebay.

**The Juggernoob** · Posted On: 6/09/2011 7:26pm

Originally Posted by HenryT

Giving out certificates "signed" by somebody who never actually signed them just has to be a criminal offense. It's just plain forgery, surely. How can it be stopped? And, yes, the guy is selling fake certs of military service too, which is even worse. I can't find where he's operating out of, but it ought to be possible to get him kicked off of Ebay.

I think if you can prove he's selling them to people who are using them as serious items of credibility , then yes, you can have his balls in any which way you want them. Just expect a lot of leg work.

**Sam Browning** · Posted On: 6/09/2011 11:11pm

Okay, which state are these guys operating in?

Any criminal fraud claim would have to be analysed in terms of state law. I would also like to know what the translations actually say. Especially the one which does not require a signature. Does it have a name of someone who is being awarded the certificate? (Don't laugh, that's how we caught one forger, he used a certificate which when translated, indicated it belonged to someone else.)

unless the person whose signatures appear on those certificates provided permission to the store to reprint them on certificates to be sold, then it appears that they may be possibly misappropriating the name and signatures of a martial arts organization that has not given them permission to use their trademarks or copyrights.

Obviously if the reproduction was done for historical purposes, then there would be no allegation of fraud or forgery, however reproduction to enable someone to claim an office, rank or distinction that they can then use for commercial purposes when they have no permission to do so is potentially a crime or civil tort.

**Snake Plissken** · Posted On: 6/10/2011 1:35am

Q: can you fill this in or will it come blank
A: I fill in it and put on the gold foil stamp and ribbons. I have many, many more in my webstore: www.fitToPrintStore.com thanks! Roger
Feb 10, 2011

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

I will personalize this with your name, rank, unit and the date. Within three days you must email me at or send a message through eBay's message center, or add the info in the notes section when you make your PayPal payment. If I do not hear from you within 3 days, I may send your items(s) blank.

eBay no longer allows sale of any military medals or certificates relating to medals. You'll have to go to my website to purchase those. IMPORTANT: eBay has strict guidelines on what can and cannot be listed. Consult their "Government documents, IDs, and licenses policy" for a full explanation. The policy prohibits:

Classified or restricted government documents
Documents that are designed to look like official documents but are actually fake
Fake certificates or diplomas

None of my listings are restricted, classified or fake.
Contact me with any questions at
Thanks,
Roger (FitToPrintStore)

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

Going to his :About Me: page
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...nofmorningstar

shows this picture:

Lists this as feedback received as a buyer:
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...eedbackAsBuyer

Including from this guy:
http://myworld.ebay.com/jjmilitarycertificates/

who sells Replacement Certificates. So I am guessing Roger has purchased from JJmilitary and scanned in his own copies for sale.

Of note:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Special-Forces-G...QQcmdZViewItem

I NOW HAVE THE ORIGINAL INSTITUTE FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE EMBOSSER!! Also, I have the one for the United Nations.
Cost me an arm and a leg!

**HenryT** · Posted On: 6/10/2011 3:23am

The Goju Ryu certificate at

http://www.fittoprintstore.com/images/yamaguchi.jpg

is “signed” (the last two columns on the left) “Zen Nihon Karate Do Goju Kai President Hanshi Yamaguchi Gogen” – a real person (though now deceased) and a real organization, but you can add your own name! Because the dates (birth date and date of award) are filled in already, it seems likely that this certificate once belonged to a real person whose name has been blanked out. As soon as the guy selling it fills in John Doe’s name, it’s a forgery – period; unless Yamaguchi Gosei has given permission for this; which is likely, isn’t it?

Look at this one, too:

http://www.fittoprintstore.com/image...%20peacock.jpg

If there is such a person as Peter M. Javens, he’s been swindled rotten. The certificate is “signed” by “Sensei Sadaharu Fujimoto.” There is such a person, but he’s a Shito Ryu teacher, not Goju, and a real Japanese would say “Fujimoto Sadaharu Sensei”, not “Sensei Sadaharu Fujimoto” – you don’t have to be very knowledgeable to know that. The signature is the wrong way around in Japanese also. Once again, a real person’s name has been used on a fake certificate. A real Japanese would also know that the plural of “kata” is not “katas.” A fake, and not even a very clever one.