The great Mesoamerican culture that existed before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries left many interesting ancient artifacts. Pre-Columbian archaeological fraud has been one of the more controversial topics in art and museum history, where scholars discuss the complex, interconnected trading of fake archaeological items. A ripoff can potentially destroy the reputation of ancient art collections and curated museum exhibits, but the upside is that continuous dialogue and discussion can improve the appraisal of such items and the knowledge about the historical foundation of these objects.