Report a suspect work

Several signs should alert you: a price far below the market, a seller in a hurry or evasive, a provenance that stops abruptly, incomplete or contradictory documents, transport requested with no supporting document, a payment in cash or by a third party with no apparent link.

Taken separately, none of these signs proves anything. It is their accumulation that justifies a report. If in doubt, do it: the analyst will judge, and a good-faith report exposes you to nothing.

Reporting is done online on the Desk, under the heading "Suspect work". The form asks for the description of the work, the place and date where it was seen, the possible identity of the seller, the nature of the suspicions and the documents you hold, such as a screenshot of the listing.

You may ask for anonymity: only the BIOP unit will know your identity, which it will pass to no one without your agreement, save a court obligation. No liability falls on a good-faith reporter.

An analyst examines the work, compares it with the database, checks the stated provenance and, if need be, contacts the national authorities. If there is no match, they may open a watch: the work is followed for several months and the reporter is informed if anything new occurs.

In case of a match or serious suspicion, the unit alerts the competent law enforcement. It never reveals to the seller the existence of a report: this rule protects the investigation and the reporter.

Reporting a suspect work is not reserved to professionals. Many private individuals, students and visitors to salerooms have raised the alarm. Everyone can contribute to protecting heritage by staying alert and passing on what they observe.

Professional organisations now build this reflex into their training, with a clear message: a good-faith report is not an accusation, it is a service rendered to all.