American Greed Episode 57: Portrait of Fraud

Case File

Portrait of Fraud

  • The Entrepreneurs
  • Kristine Eubanks is a Los Angeles based entrepreneur. Together with her husband and a fast talking auctioneer, they create a diabolical plan to sell big quantities of bogus art and unauthorized prints on live TV.
  • Fine Art Treasures Gallery
  • They launch a national televised auction called Fine Art Treasures Gallery. The live TV show offers viewers a chance to bid on "rare" artwork at bargain basement prices. The paintings are advertised as signed by such artists as Picasso, Chagall, Dali and Rembrandt.
  • Art Fraud
  • The show reached viewers across the country. Business was booming and Fine Art Treasures Gallery made millions of dollars from an unsuspecting audience. But soon the auction winners discovered, looks can be deceiving.

Web Extras

  • counterfeit-art-200.jpg
    By: Jenna Martino,|CNBC Associate Producer

    How to make sure the work of art you’re buying isn’t a forgery.

  • Photos of artwork and evidence seized when warrants were served at Fine Art Treasures Gallery.

  • Fraud Report from victim Myron Temchin highlights the scam by Fine Art Treasures Gallery.