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How to spot a fake graded card (slab) before you buy

Check the certificate number, the label, the case and the card itself to avoid fake PSA, CGC, Beckett or SGC slabs and swapped cards.

Updated October 21, 2026 · 2 min read

The more a graded card is worth, the more tempting it is to fake. Counterfeiters copy labels and cases, reuse real certificate numbers or put a different card inside a genuine case. A few checks before paying protect you from most of them.

1. Look up the certificate number

Every graded card has a certificate number on its label. Enter it on the grader's own site:

The result must describe the same card, the same set, the same grade. When the grader shows images of the card, compare them with the one you are buying: centering, print marks and small flaws are like fingerprints.

A valid number is not enough on its own: fakes often reuse the number of a real slab. Ask the seller for the number before buying; a seller who avoids the question is a warning sign.

2. Check the label

  • Fonts, spacing and print sharpness: compare with a label you know is genuine, under a magnifier.
  • Holograms and security marks: they should shift colour when you tilt the slab and sit in the right place.
  • Barcode: scan it, it must give the same certificate number as printed.

3. Check the case

  • The seam must be clean and even, with no glue marks or gaps.
  • The plastic should be clear, without haze or colour tint.
  • A genuine case is rigid: a fake often flexes more and feels lighter.
  • The label must sit exactly in its slot and nothing should rattle.

4. Check the card inside

  • Its condition must match the grade: a creased card in a "10" is a fake or a tampered slab.
  • Compare print, holo pattern and card stock with a genuine copy.
  • A card that looks small in the case may have been trimmed.

Seller warning signs

  • A price far below recent sales of the same grade.
  • Blurry or stock photos, no photo of the back of the slab.
  • New account, no reviews, no returns.

If in doubt

Buy from known shops and platforms with buyer protection, and pay with a method that lets you dispute the payment. For an expensive card, prefer a seller who accepts returns, and check the slab as soon as it arrives.

Sources: the graders' certificate lookups listed above; PregradeCards, how to spot fake PSA slabs. See also our guide Which grading company?

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