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CBS News
16 hours ago
- CBS News
More customers accuse a traveling auction of tricking them into spending a lot of money for jewelry and paintings worth very little
A Rolex worth $55,000 going for $6,500. An authentic Andy Warhol Superman silkscreen print going for $10,000. These were pitches made to two customers at pop-up auctions near Cleveland, Ohio, and San Diego, California, recently that were too good to pass up. Later, both customers found out the deals were also too good to be true. One Sunday in early March, a suburban Cleveland couple was out running errands when they came across a sign about a "Law Enforcement Seizure Auction" being held somewhere nearby. The list of items going up for sale caught their attention. "They had advertised a lot of watches, jewelry, a Blue McLaren — and we decided to call the number to see where the auction was," said the customer who didn't want to be identified publicly. A short time later, they got a call back and learned the auction was going to be held at a Marriott in Warrensville Heights. So they went. They saw the sports car parked outside. Inside, they noticed paintings, jewelry, and the fancy refreshments. "They were serving champagne and wine to the bidders," the customer said. Then the excitement began to build, "The bids were starting and people kept bidding up and higher and higher, and there was that usual sound of, 'Sold!'" the customer said. "It all seemed so real at the moment." Earlier, they had spotted a watch to bid on. The customer described it as "a beautiful, diamond-studded Rolex." The auctioneer told a sweet story about the watch and it's value before the bidding began. "He basically mentioned the watch was bought by some Wall Street guy for his wife and it could be worth $55,000," the customer said. And, when it came up for bid, the customer said: "The auctioneer started with a minimum bid of $3,000. Very quickly the bid went up to $6,000." The Cleveland-area man added an additional $500 and won the bid at $6,500. "I was very happy because I just bought my first Rolex for my wife," he said. They received the appraisal report after the sale. It noted the value at $19,200 "We thought it was a steal," the customer said. It was a similar story a month later across the country in a hotel near San Diego, California. Vartan Messier and his wife had also never attended an auction before. So when they saw the signs advertising "All Certified" items that were "Assets Seizures" from the "U.S. Dept. of Legal Impound" being auctioned to the highest bidder, they bit. Messier called the number and learned the auction was being held at the Del Mar Hilton. When they arrived, Messier said, "We saw there were a lot of artwork by modern artists. Seems to be authentic as some of them had certificates of authenticity on the back of them. They had origination documents. There was jewelry and they provided appraisals for all the jewelry." Messier spotted an Andy Warhol Superman silkscreen print that he saw online could sell for tens of thousands of dollars. "I double checked whether or not it was an original, authenticated print," he said. "When they came to ask for my credit card, I asked for the providence document and the appraisal. They said, 'Everything's included.'" Messier bid $8,000 and won. With taxes and fees, he paid a total of $10,005. "I said, well, that's a pretty good deal I got," said Messier. CBS News Chicago reported on these traveling auctions in January 2025 after hearing from a woman who also spent a lot of money on jewelry and artwork that turned out to be worth much less than she paid. A deep dive into licensing documentation, business registries and court cases revealed a 30-year history of penalties, suspensions and expired licenses. That company is tied to more than a dozen other business names, including several other auctions. One of them is U.S. Trustee Auctions. That is the auction company that held the July 2024 auction in Northbrook that CBS News Chicago attended. It's also the same name used by the auctions held this year in Del Mar, California, and Warrensville Heights, Ohio. The men who attended the auctions in each of those places reported that the auctioneer from their auctions was the same as well. It was Anwar Khan. Vartan Messier and the man from suburban Cleveland found the CBS News Chicago reports from earlier this year, but not until after they had already purchased the Warhol and the watch. Messier reached out to a Los Angeles gallery that specializes in Warhol prints, and sent photos of his purchase and the authentication stamp on the back to a gallery representative. "He said: 'This is not an authentic Warhol. The colors are all wrong, and the ways in which the positioning of part of the print is incorrect,'" Messier said. Messier tried disputing his American Express charge, but was unable to do so quickly because the charge was still pending. He discovered similar reprints selling on eBay for less than he paid — for example, $2,000. He believes his print is worth much less than that. "Maybe $200," Messier said. "Whatever someone is willing to pay for an inauthentic Warhol." In suburban Cleveland, the customer filed a police report claiming fraud. In the narrative of an officer's investigation, it's noted what a gallery owner who looked at the watch the man bought in person said: "[T]he watch has mismatched Rolex parts, but does not appear to all be original.… The certificate of authenticity was meaningless as it was not a real authenticator." In addition, that jeweler used a gold tester and "confirmed there was no gold in the band," and 'the link attachment to the case crumbled" when he removed the band. In other areas of concern the jeweler noted, the crystal glass did not appear to be real and was cemented on, and the mother of pearl belonged to a different watch series. The jeweler said the watch appeared to be old, made in the 1960s, but "has had multiple parts replaced, or repaired since." The watch also notes two different model numbers, neither of which are the model number shown on the auction's appraisal document. "What's damning to me is that they still continue to operate," said Messier. That's because although the two men filed police reports and complaints with federal and consumer agencies, many people in their situations do not. "For every 10 people who experience a scam, maybe only one or two might file a complaint with a government agency," said Chuck Bell, programs director for advocacy at Consumer Reports. "So that's one of the things that slows down accountability when people don't come forward and don't speak out," Bell said when more consumers speak up, laws can be changed or strengthened. "We may not have the exact laws on the books that we need to protect people in the way they should be protected," he said. With help from the Delaware Better Business Bureau, Messier eventually received a refund of the entire $10,005 from U.S. Trustee Auctions and returned the Warhol. The Cleveland couple is still waiting and hoping for their refund. A source familiar with Anwar Khan and his brother, Azam, said the auctions stopped briefly after the January reporting, picked back up in the spring, but are currently paused again. The Khans' company, Neoclassic Auctions, was suing the customer in CBS News Chicago's January reports for defamation. The Khans wanted $2 million at first and for her to sign a non-disclosure agreement. But in late June, they refused a court order to answer her lawyer's questions in a video-recorded deposition, so their lawyer had to drop the lawsuit.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Niio Launches Streaming Art & Signage Service, Bringing Curated Visual Art Experiences to Every Screen
Any screen. Any space. An always-on canvas for art, ambience, and digital culture NEW YORK, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Niio, the world's leading platform for streaming curated digital art, today announces the launch of its new Art & Signage Subscription Service—a breakthrough offering that transforms any screen into an always-on canvas for curated visual art experiences, with optional features for branded content and messaging. Already trusted by global brands like Hilton, Marriott, Samsung, and Meta, Niio's technology is now available to businesses of all sizes—bringing high-impact visual culture into everyday spaces, from boutique hotels and wellness studios to clinics, salons, professional offices, and creatively driven workspaces. Reimagining Screens in the Age of Digital Culture Over 30% of businesses have public facing screens on their walls. And yet, most of them sit idle—either off, playing daytime TV, looping dashboards, or displaying generic corporate messaging. Niio changes that. With a simple app installation, any screen becomes a source of beauty, inspiration, and ambience. The platform delivers high-quality, always-on digital art that enhances how people feel—and how they engage with the space around them. An Elegant Platform for Art, Atmosphere, and Messaging Designed for the experience economy and built for simplicity, Niio's platform provides: The world's largest curated library of digital artworks, from nearly 10,000 artists and galleries in 150+ countries Support for all digital formats, including photography, video, AI-generated, and code-based generative art Pre-curated playlists by industry and theme, plus AI-powered tools to curate personalized art experiences Stunning 4K playback on supported devices Integrated signage features to upload branded content or announcements Full scheduling tools for rotating between art and messaging content And with Niio's proprietary Default Art Mode, screens automatically revert to curated digital art when not in use—creating a seamless, elevated experience throughout the day. Enterprise-Grade Power. Self-Service Simplicity. Niio offers two tailored access models: Enterprise: For global brands and property portfolios, Niio powers large-scale digital art strategies across public areas and private spaces. Self-Service: Starting at just $50/month, any business can activate a Niio-powered experience in minutes—just like installing a Netflix or Spotify app. Available on 300M+ Devices Worldwide Niio is compatible with every major platform, including: Amazon Fire TV and the Amazon Signage Stick Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS Android TV and Google TV Apple TV Through strategic partnerships with Samsung, Amazon, and others, Niio ensures global accessibility and simple deployment—at scale or screen-by-screen. A New Form of Patronage By subscribing to Niio, every business becomes a patron of the arts—supporting working artists from around the world. Each screen-turned-canvas not only enriches a space, but also directly benefits the creator behind the work. With content curated to suit every environment and mood, Niio offers businesses a meaningful way to engage with art and culture while inspiring their audiences. Leadership Commentary Rob Anders, Co-Founder & CEO of Niio: 'We've spent years helping global brands integrate digital art into physical environments. With this launch of our new streaming art subscription service, we're opening access to one of the most significant collections of curated visual art experiences—backed by powerful tools and thoughtful design. Any screen can now become a source of beauty and meaning, while supporting the global artist community.' Availability Niio's Streaming Art & Signage Subscription is available globally today. Plans start at $50/month, with a 30-day free trial and exclusive hardware bundles available at About Niio Niio is the world's leading platform for streaming, curating, and experiencing digital art. Operating in over 150 countries and working with nearly 10,000 artists and galleries, Niio turns screens into immersive cultural experiences—transforming how businesses use space, connect with audiences, and support the arts. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at A video accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: Contact: nora@ while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Work begins on £200m Crown Square project in Middlesbrough, UK
Preparations are underway for a £200m ($268.4m) regeneration project in central Middlesbrough, according to the Middlesbrough Development Corporation in the UK. The initiative, known as Crown Square, is set to transform a derelict site in Gresham into a new Fairfield by Marriott-branded hotel alongside accommodation for students and young professionals. Contractor Wates has begun erecting hoardings at the site to facilitate preparatory groundwork, marking the first steps towards construction. This phase will pave the way for build-to-rent properties and student housing, alongside one of the first hotels of its brand in the UK. Scaffolding will also be positioned on The Crown's exterior, located at Borough Road and Linthorpe Road, enabling the reopening of an adjacent footpath for pedestrian use. Developers iMpeC and Buccleuch Property are collaborating with the Middlesbrough Development Corporation on this project, which is designed to establish 1,500 new homes and generate 4,000 jobs. A decision regarding The Crown's future will be taken in subsequent development phases by the corporation's board. Middlesbrough Development Corporation chair Tony Parkinson said: 'This site is primed for regeneration and local people will now be pleased to see activity taking place. 'The Development Corporation continues to liaise closely with our development partners iMpeC and Buccleuch Property - with support from Middlesbrough Council - as we work together to deliver this huge investment which will bring massive benefits to the town.' Wates was appointed in November 2024 to oversee the regeneration efforts aimed at revitalising the reportedly neglected area. The mayoral-led Middlesbrough Development Corporation is leading this initiative, with plans revealed in May 2025 at a national property event. The aforementioned hotel aims to address unmet demand near the town's A66 entrance. "Work begins on £200m Crown Square project in Middlesbrough, UK" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
