- Report: #1288026
Complaint Review: Cooper Sterling Auctions - Toronto Ontario
Reported By:
Peter -
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Cooper Sterling Auctions
1 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Web:
csauctions.ca
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Cooper Sterling Auctions Crown Assets Auctioneers, Heritage Auctions Alberta Ltd, Heritage Auctioneers, Bloomsbury & Butterfield Fraud Toronto Ontario
Shahram (Jim) Mirkalami has been committing fraud through auctions since the early 90s. His first claim: that Cooper Sterling Auctions has been in business for over 20+ years is a lie. 20 years ago, he was operating under "Bloomsbury & Butterfield". I, personally witnessed his auction getting shut down by Richmond BC Police. At the time, he was showcasing 2 luxury vehicles, supplemented by jewelery and persian carpets. Once the police arrived, it was revealed that the vehicles were actually rented to lure people to his auction. His shill (a supposedly wealthy buyer who had purchased a $90,000 Ferrari at his auction weeks earlier) was seen leaving the auction in a Chrisler K-car. The rugs were mostly cheap knockoffs, and the jewelry was presented with wildly inflated appraisals. Also, his watches are often sold with cheap, after market bezels and dials.
Since then, Jim Mirkalami has changed his business name at least 4 times that I know of.
For years, he has been claiming that he auctions seized jewelry under Airport Seizure #CS4971-07-0926. This is another deception to lend credibility to his merchandise. I suspect he only has a few pieces that were seized by customs years ago. He carries these pieces from auction to auction, never allowing them to be sold to anyone but his shill.
In 2007, The Government of Saskatchewan refused to renue the business license of Heritage Auctions and issued a public warning: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=388e5362-8c86-4a9b-abf1-65c5bd8dd6be
In 2013, the Government of Alberta banned Mr Mirkalami from conducting auctions in that province, sighting violations of the fair trading act, as well as conflict of interest, false advertising and misrepresentation of his merchandise. For more info: https://cjaiorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/heritage-mirkalami-court-documents.pdf By then he had already changed his name to Cooper Sterling and has been continuing his con in other provinces. He boasts of his BBB accreditation, knowing that most of the people he rips off are too embarrassed to report it. If push comes to shove with a dissatisfied customer, all he has to do is make a "good faith effort" to resolve the complaint in order to keep his A+ rating. The occasional refund is simply the cost of ripping people off.
The lack of auction regulations in Canada make it possible for people like Jim to operate with very few consequences. Always beware of these "hit and run" auctions that allow only one hour to preview. And beware of Shahram (Jim) Mirkalami, and whatever auction name he happens to be using.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Dave
toronto,Ontario,
Canada
Finally, help has arrived for those who have fallen victim to Copper Sterling
#2General Comment
Fri, April 26, 2019
To those who have fallen victim to this fraudster, I urge you to contact me (with or without lawyer/law enforcement). I have information about his exact wherabouts. I hope the relevant information I have will bring closure those who have fallen victim to the relentless back-handed business practices used Copper Sterling. Using the location for him, victims will be able to request/sue for compensation, or help press criminal charges.
Feel free to contact me through comments.
Dave
toronto,Ontario,
Canada
Solution to whoever fell a victim to Copper Sterling auctions
#3General Comment
Fri, April 26, 2019
To those who have fallen victim to this fraudster, I urge you to contact me (with or without lawyer/law enforcement). I have information about his exact wherabouts. I hope the relevant information I have will bring closure those who have fallen victim to the relentless back-handed business practices used Copper Sterling. Using the location for him, victims will be able to request/sue for compensation, or help press criminal charges.
Feel free to contact me through comments.
