Fake Warhols and Banksys: Italian authorities break up massive art forgery network

One of the biggest networks of art forgers copying works by Warhol, Banksy and Picasso has been broken up by the Italian authorities.

Transcript

00:00Italian authorities say they have dismantled a network of European art forgers who sold

00:07fake artworks with a potential market value of about 200 million euros.

00:13Authorities on Monday said the suspects made fake Waohs, Pankys and Picassos and then tried

00:18to sell them to unsuspecting buyers.

00:21Italy's special art police said the seizures in four countries included France, Spain and

00:27Belgium and netted about 2,100 fake works that could have done massive economic damage.

00:35According to officials, the investigation began in 2023 when Italian authorities discovered

00:40200 fakes during the search of the home of a pizza businessman.

00:46The investigation then prompted them to monitor e-commerce sites of auction houses to see

00:51if others were involved in the network.

00:54Authorities say 38 people have been placed under investigation over the fraud.