Very true point. When I watch shows like Pawn Stars and someone says they bought an item, especially at an auction, and it was, "John Waynes hat", but they actually got ripped off, I get pissed. If a professional auction house does this, imagine a regular person. If it's not real, don't say it is.
I saw a guy at an auction pay a bunch for a "Tommy Bahama" bedroom set. The designer Key West, Bahama type furniture. After he bought it he found out it wasn't real. It was a knock off. The auctioneer then said it was a Tommy Bahama " type"set. He never said that during the bidding. Freaking thief! Emmett Auctions in Delaware, liars. .