DON'T BELIEVE

Last updated : 22 October 2004 By Editor

This from the Mirror on United stopping fake autographed shirts:

Manchester United stars helped crack down on a suspected internet auction
scam involving fake autographed shirts.

Skipper Roy Keane and boss Alex Ferguson were among those who signed club
shirts to prove one sold to a fan on auction website eBay was a fake.

Trading Standards officers yesterday confirmed the shirt claimed to have been
signed by the entire United team was a rip-off.

It is believed the shirt is among £35,000 worth of fake or non-existent sports
memorabilia being sold to fans in the scam.

The shirt was bought by a fan in Shropshire where chief trading standards officer David Walker said: "We asked them to sign autographs with a similar pen on a similar surface.

"We are delighted with actions taken by Manchester United to prevent fans being misled."

Police in Shepshed, Leics, where the suspected forgery operation is based, said
a man had been arrested in connection with up to 150 alleged fraud offences