Biggest art fraud in world history

In what they are calling “the biggest art fraud in world history,” police in Canada have arrested 8 suspects and seized more than 1,000 paintings, prints, and other works, all believed to be forgeries claiming to be works by the indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau, as reported here. Investigators believe the suspects produced as many as 6,500 forgeries sold for nearly $100 million since 1996 to unsuspecting customers in China, Germany, the U.S., and other countries in addition to Canada. One of the investigators noted “I’m sure there are many people who are wondering if the Morrisseau painting they have is authentic, and I know there may be some people who feel embarrassed they fell victim to these crimes.”