I suppose it should'nt be a total surprise when you hear of them copying vintage guitars.
I watch Pawn Stars(yes I said pawn stars)
and in that program it shows that if something is worth money it'll get copied no matter what it is, any shape, size or form. Its amazing what gets faked and sold on in pawn shops and antique auctions, and the lenths folk will go to make these copies look genuine, especially the American market. It just seems worse when it hits nearer home and your life's passion of our loving of guitars gets hammered too
But I suppose the profit market is immense if they can produce a really good fake. I've played an bought guitars all my life and I doubt if I could tell a fake Strat or Les Paul from a real one.