Bavarian police seized forged artworks falsely attributed to Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Juan Miró, Amedeo Modigliani, and Frida Kahlo in coordinated raids across Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein on October 15. The operation targeted a 77-year-old German man and ten suspected accomplices, who are accused of conspiring to commit fraud with art forgeries. The main suspect attempted to sell two fake Picasso paintings—including a portrait of Dora Maar—out of a car boot, prompting a buyer to alert authorities. Other seized works include a copy of Rembrandt's *The Syndics*, offered for SFr 120 million, and pieces falsely attributed to Anthony van Dyck, with prices ranging from €400,000 to €14 million.
The case highlights the persistent threat of art forgery in the global market and the lengths criminals will go to deceive buyers, including fabricating certificates of authenticity. The involvement of multiple countries underscores the cross-border nature of such schemes, while the audacity of selling high-value fakes from a car boot reveals a brazen disregard for due diligence. This investigation serves as a reminder for collectors and institutions to verify provenance rigorously, especially when deals seem too good to be true.