Counterfeit PSA cards
JWBlue
Posts: 489 ✭✭✭
As I am going to begin buying PSA cards the thought occurred to me that there could be counterfeits.
The PSA cards have nothing more than plastic and a piece of cardboard with numbers on it. Why can't a peorsn counterfeit the plastic and cardboard and then use another card?
People say the solution is to buy from auction houses. Do the auction houses verify a PSA card is genuine?
I see on the PSA website there is some sort of register. Does everyone register their cards?
The PSA cards have nothing more than plastic and a piece of cardboard with numbers on it. Why can't a peorsn counterfeit the plastic and cardboard and then use another card?
People say the solution is to buy from auction houses. Do the auction houses verify a PSA card is genuine?
I see on the PSA website there is some sort of register. Does everyone register their cards?
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Comments
Before you buy, learn: what is frosting and how is it detected, what are the various flip (label) styles of legitimate cards, how do cards of each grade look ("buy the card, not the holder"), etc.
When you buy, try to buy in ways that protect yourself: eBay has excellent buyer protection, PayPal (non-gift) has buyer protections, and most major credit cards offer it as well. When possible, use all three.
Consult these boards by posting a link or scans of cards that you are suspicious of or simply have questions about. You'll get quick, expert feedback for free.
Good luck!
I am only buying 3 cards that I am concerned about being counterfeited.
T Gwynn 83 Topps, Clemens 84 Fleer Update, Clemens 85 Donruss.
Should I even spend a second being concerned about these being counterfeited?
<< <i>I'd be very concerned regarding the 83 Topps Gywnn... >>
The thought crossed my mind.
Charrigan brought up some good points. I think what I am going to do is buy these cards, send them to PSA and have them verify they are not countefeit.
Is ebay pretty good about protecting card buyers?
Counterfeit slabs are relatively rare and, when they do emerge, they tend to be very high end expensive cards.
The bigger concern is tampered slabs where they have been cracked open and the contents replaced.
Typically this will result in frosting of the case. But some frosting can occur from the sealing process itself, so some frosting in and of itself is not cause for alarm.
I would strongly suggest you buy a couple of cheap PSA cards and trying various methods to open the slab as carefully as you can. This will familiarize you with the pattern and amount of frosting to look out for.
By the way, PSA recently introduced a new slab design that is reportedly much harder to crack without destroying it.
Snorto~
3...2...1...Poof!
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
His opinion was that a knowledgeable person with the right equipment could do a BETTER job of printing "old" cards with the new printing technology. He also said getting paper to match wouldn't be a problem.
Printed paper items can be duplicated and no third party grading service is perfect.
I seem to remember the 1984 Fleer Update set had some cards, including the Clemens, that were being counterfeited because their value at the time was skyrocketing. There are Clemens PSA 10 Fleer Update cards on ebay right now for $500.00, doubtful it's value is high enough to counterfeit in my opinion. There are probably fakes still floating around from when this was a SUPER popular card.
I am assuming that the other cards you mentioned wouldn't be valuable enough to spend the time and money to duplicate.
PSA is the best grading service for cards like the ones you mentioned. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about counterfeits, just be careful and have fun with the hobby!
edited to add; ebay is not going to be of much help if you can't determine the card you bought was fake in the allotted return time. Seller can simply claim you switched it. Cracking cards out after they are in a PSA holder (especially the new ones WOW) leaves evidence that holder was tampered with.
<< <i>
I seem to remember the 1984 Fleer Update set had some cards, including the Clemens, that were being counterfeited because their value at the time was skyrocketing. There are Clemens PSA 10 Fleer Update cards on ebay right now for $500.00, doubtful it's value is high enough to counterfeit in my opinion. There are probably fakes still floating around from when this was a SUPER popular card.
>>
I recall this.
Does PSA also verify if a card is genuine or do they only grade? Can the card be verified as genuine when it is in a PSA case?
I strongly agree with this:
"PSA is the best grading service for cards like the ones you mentioned. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about counterfeits, just be careful and have fun with the hobby!"
IMO, you're getting some bad advice in this thread. I would not recommend that you spend the money or time sending cards that you have purchased to PSA to double-check their authenticity. There is a benefit, for sure, but the risk that a card is counterfeit if proper procedures are followed is extremely slim--slim enough that it does not justify the expense or worry. If you vet a card with the expert minds of this board and purchase from a reputable seller, the chances that card is legitimate are as near 100% as one can fathom.
<< <i>I rate this guy a 10... >>
I would rather ask perceived dumb questions now than possibly purchase a counterfeit card and then come on these forums how to avoid it again.
Considering one of the cards I want is known to be counterfeited my question is valid.
People would rather make uninformed decisions rather than ask questions. Not me.
If asking perceived dumb questions makes me a court jester so be it. I couldn't care less what anyone on an internet forum thinks of me.
<< <i>I would rather ask perceived dumb questions now than possibly purchase a counterfeit card and then come on these forums how to avoid it again. >>
I'm not sure what that comment was referring to, but don't sweat basic questions. Everyone has been there. I've asked a bunch of really simple things during my short time on the board. That's how we learn.
<< <i>Does PSA also verify if a card is genuine or do they only grade? Can the card be verified as genuine when it is in a PSA case? >>
PSA verifies that the card submitted is authentic, unaltered and determines what grade it "deserves". Once a card is given a grade it is considered genuine.
Everyone makes mistakes. I am sure ALL the grading companies have been fooled at one time or another.