As graded cards have become valuable, counterfeiters have followed. The scam is simple: take a fake or low-grade card, seal it in a copied slab with a real-looking label, and sell it as the genuine article. Here is how to protect yourself.
The single most important check: verify the cert number
Every genuine graded card has a unique certification number printed on the label. PSA, BGS, and CGC all run free public databases where you can enter that number and see the exact card, grade, and often a photo taken by the grader.
Always do this before buying. If the cert number does not exist, or the database shows a different card than the one in the photo, walk away. A counterfeiter can copy a label's look but cannot put a fake entry into the official database.
Warning signs of a fake slab
- Label font and spacing look off. Compare against known-genuine slabs of the same grader. Counterfeit labels often have slightly wrong fonts, blurry text, or uneven spacing.
- The case feels wrong. Genuine slabs use specific plastics and ultrasonic welding. Fakes may feel light, have visible glue, rough edges, or seams that do not line up.
- The card moves inside the slab. A genuine slab holds the card firmly. Rattling suggests a re-sealed or fake case.
- No hologram or security feature where the grader normally includes one.
- The grade does not match the card. If a card labelled Gem Mint 10 has visible whitening, scratches, or off-centre printing, be very suspicious.
Red flags in the listing itself
- The seller will not share the cert number before payment.
- Photos are stock images or screenshots, not the actual card.
- The price is far below market — if a card normally sells for fifty thousand and someone offers it for five, assume it is fake or stolen.
- The seller pushes you to pay outside the platform, by direct UPI or bank transfer.
That last point matters most. The moment a seller asks you to pay directly instead of through the platform, you lose every protection. Never do it.
How GradedBazaar protects you
- Every listing must include a cert number, and we verify it against the grader's database before the listing goes live.
- Payments are held in escrow — the seller is not paid until you confirm the card arrived as described.
- If a card is not genuine, you open a dispute and get your money back.
- Sellers who list fakes are permanently banned.
Counterfeits are real, but they are beatable. Verify the cert, never pay off-platform, and trust escrow. Those three habits stop almost every scam.