HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR AUTOGRAPH IS REAL OR NOT?

BY MARK HALPERN

   Over the last year, two major counterfeit dealers of sports memorabilia were caught and charged. They were convicted to forging over $6million dollars of high-end autographs from some of the most famous athletes. Names ranging from Tom Brady and Joe Burrow, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, Mickey Mantle, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and yes, the Black Mamba Kobe Bryant. For the people who bought the items whether directly from these dealers or by way of a second party, you paid all that money and the item is not real. One forger took his own life with fears of what was going to happen. For the people he took advantage of they have a very small chance of ever recovering their investment. As for the other forger, he is a Russian. He is in custody for autographed memorabilia, fake coins, stamps and jewelry. 

     Fake Autographs in the sports memorabilia is more common than you think. There are many Authentication companies out their that are safe to use. JSA, PSA, SGC, BGS and Tri Star are the top five companies out on the market. As long as it comes with the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) and it matches in their online database then it generally is Authentic. 

   Now when you go to big Sport Card Shows such as the National buying boxes of cards and individual autograph cards you know what companies you’re dealing with and if on a sport card from Topps, Panini, Upperdeck and Leaf its genuine. However, it’s not just sports cards on display, no there is hundreds of dealers selling autograph memorabilia and better than half have questionable COA’s. These usually come from the dealer him self or another third party that has no online database and it’s their word it’s good. The term Caveat Emptor (which means buyer beware) comes into play very prominently in this case. If the COA is not from a reputable company and they are not willing to let JSA or PSA authenticate (JSA and PSA are at most trade shows) then many red flags should go up. If the autograph you are looking at is one of the ones that I recommend using, simply download their app and punch in the certificate number and as long as it comes up with exactly what you are getting then you should feel safe going home with your new part of your collection.