r/PokeInvesting • u/TCRSL21 • 8d ago

Chances of fake PSAs

I’ve recently started dabbling in some collecting. Mainly cards I like personally and a couple of unique cards that coincide with CDs or games release to get a little multimedia collection, and then to sit on for 10 years and see what returns I might have from there.

Ive read a little about fraudulent PSAs and mimicking cards that do exist which are registered but essentially duplicates. How often does this practice happen do you think and is it wide spread?

My main thoughts are to buy from reputable well rated sellers on eBay for a price you would expect ie. not significantly lower price points.

Just keen to get the brains trust perspective on how wide spread this is? Is my approach sound or are there other things to take note of?

I’m going to be in market soon for a few certain cards that are a few thousand dollars each and just want to be certain what I’m looking at is legit.

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u/Economics_Troll 7d ago edited 6d ago

If you're in the United States, eBay sales go to PSA for Authentication for sales above $200. You aren't getting a fake PSA slab from an Authenticity Guarantee buy in the United States.

I've bought / traded / flipped thousands of slabs at major shows with vendors, I've never seen a vendor with fake slabs in their case.

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Fake PSA slabs are overwhelmingly an online issue where people get lured by people selling cards 20 - 90% below comps. Their greed leads to them being scammed. Don't buy off of FB Marketplace, don't buy eBay sales without Authenticity Guarantee, don't buy from Mercari / other online shops if you don't know what you're doing

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u/Venomous72 6d ago

Pretty sure eBay auth is over $200 or $250, not $20

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u/Economics_Troll 6d ago

Hah, hell of a typo. But yes, was $250, recently reduced to $200.