Authentication • 8 min read
Spotting Fake Cards, Trimmed Slabs and Forged Autographs
A field guide to counterfeits: what to check with a loupe, a light and a phone before money changes hands.
▶
Real vs Fake Side by Side
Video coming soon — footage from the next show will appear here.
Counterfeits have improved. So has the tooling to catch them — and most of it fits in your pocket.
Checks to run before you pay
- ★Verify the cert number against the grader's online database, every time.
- ★Check slab seams and label font weight for re-slabs.
- ★Loupe the print dots — counterfeits often show wrong rosette patterns.
- ★Compare card dimensions; trimmed cards read short on one axis.
- ★For autographs, insist on a third-party authentication sticker or a witnessed signing.
On-site authenticators are available at the show. If a deal cannot survive a five-minute check, it is not a deal.
how to spot fake sports cardscounterfeit graded slabforged autograph authenticationtrimmed card detection
Plan Your Show
Passes, VIP packages and dealer applications are open now.
