Move Along Mr. Tebow, Nothing To See Here

Tim Tebow and I are not going to be collecting BFFs this year, but for a lot of people, he is the hottest player to come out of school since Danny Wuerffle. Because of this, a guy who probably wont do a single thing well in the pros has cards that are selling for astronomical values. When I say astronomical, I mean, he is frequently outselling top picks and players who are slated to do very well in the NFL.

Although some of his current autographed cards are selling off the chart, there is one of them that has made some waves lately. This card shouldnt have sold for more than 150-200 bucks, but for some reason, it sold close to 700. Obviously this should set off some big red flags, and more importantly, it is a good teaching tool to show people how bad shill bidding can get.

Basically, a guy has a card that he doesnt want to sell low, so he either creates an account or gets a friend to bid on his own item. Sometimes, this fraudulent account bids countless times in the minimum amount until it gets higher than the seller wants. Other times, its two accounts, one setting a huge high bid, and another bidding it up to a high amount. This Tebow is a pretty good example of both. If the fraudulent account wins, the original seller just puts it back up under a different name, or if the scammer is stupid enough, under the same name.

The easiest way to check is to open the bid history from the item page, and start clicking on the hidden names. It displays a record of how many times each person has bid with a certain seller, and most importantly, how many items they have won. This is one thing that eBay takes VERY seriously, so dont hesitate to report it if you see it.

Can We Ever Trust Buybacks Again?

Over the last few months, I have spent a lot of time discussing fake autos, fake patches, and all sorts of scams across this hobby. Lately the amount of certain types of fakes has nearly quadrupled, leading me to question every single part of every auto that makes it on eBay. Its tiring really.

One of the scams that has blown up recently has been the production of fake buybacks, mostly bad ones. Sellers take cards that are pretty much worthless unsigned, and sign them illegitamately themselves under the auspices that the card was re-purchased by the manufacturer and signed officially. The term for these cards is "buyback" because the company actually goes out and buys unsigned versions of old cards for signatures. They are pretty rare in most cases, unless you look at a product like Bowman Originals, a set comprised completely of buybacks.

The problem is, people have found ways to transfer stickers or cases that usually secure the cards as real. This has caused a boom in fakes, and even people who just dont care enough to do it the convincing way.

When it comes to any future buybacks, im pretty much going to say right now that this situation has prevented me from buying one ever again. Now that Rookie Premiere Autographs are ruined, as well as these, non-scam ridden card types are dropping like flies. Of course, because companies REFUSE to do anything to prevent it, and eBay makes tons of money off it, no one will ever force them to stop.

Hopefully, over the next few years, companies can find a way to make the cards tamperproof. However, when you see that people can fake slabs on PSA cards, its going to be really tough to figure out a way to stop the scammers. I say that educating the uneducated is the best answer, even though there are people out there who think that one shouldnt do anything until they are scammed themselves. As stupid as that sounds, these douchebags take advantage of every edge they can get. Give em an inch and they take a mile. Do you have any ideas?

Fake Buybacks Are Just As Bad Right Now

In the wake of all this sticker fake mania, I have kind of left out all the different other fakes these fuckers are selling. One of the more prominent and easier scams to run is the "Buyback" fake, because technically, any card can be signed and considered for the job. All you do is start signing cards, get some holograms (or not), and you have a buyback. You dont even need language on the back or anything to signify that its more than just a signed card bought and resigned by the company. Look at Bowman Orignials, the whole product is made up of buybacks.

Still, the scam rules still apply:

1)If its too good to be true, it usually is
2)Private auctions are always bad
3)Watch the seller and their other items for sale
4)Research your sets so you dont get taken
5)If price is low, its low for a reason

Here are a few examples:

Fake Tiger Woods SP Authentic Buyback - Totally a fake, not even a question.
Fake Albert Pujols Bowman Buyback - Another No Doubter
Fake Alex Rodriguez Play Ball Buyback - Seller calls this card into question
Fake Alex Rodriguez Bowman Heritage Buyback - Just funny its so bad.

When it comes down to it, dont mess with buybacks unless you are sure. Most if not all UD buybacks come with a certificate, and you can always look up the UD cert number. Despite all these sellers saying they bought it from a friend, or it was pack pulled, they are just trying to scam you. No reason to take a chance.

More Updates On The Growing Epidemic Of Fake Auto Stickers

Looks like fake stickers are going to be the newest scam to hit the market. Yet, as expected, the people who perpetuate the scam are about as stupid as the clueless idiots that bid on this stuff. Thanks to my new favorite eBay spotter, ewensel, we now have cards that are so obviously fake that im surprised people are bidding.

Here we have a 2007 LCM Brady Quinn Freshman Fabrics card numbered to some gross number over 600. What the bidders dont know is that this card ALWAYS contained one jersey swatch and ZERO autos. When they get this card, turn it over and see the huge number its paralleled to, Im hoping they will maybe be tipped off.



First off, the auto is definitely fake. Quinn's auto looks similar, but not even close. Secondly, the card is known to have NO auto parallels, and there is no back scan of the card. Obviously when you see the language on the back of the card there is no auto mentioned. Thirdly, the language from the auction says that "Card is autographed on an official Donruss/Playoff Autograph Sticker!!" Why would you need to say that? Obviously not real. Lastly, its a private auction, always a red flag.

I have two theories about how this happened. Either someone stole sheets of unsigned stickers from the company at an event or signing, or they are taking old stickers off crap cards and rubbing off the auto. Since most of the stickers are signed in permanent black pen, there has to be a catch I am missing.

Basically, if the card doesnt look right from now on, DO NOT BID. Cover your ass and dont be an idiot. Looks like hot packs have gone the way of the dodo, this is the new scam no doubt. I may stop covering it to prevent people from getting ideas.

NOTE: If someone has a crap Topps or Donini auto they can spare, please try to get the auto off the sticker and tell me what happens. Nail polish remover, acetone, paint thinner, do it all. Ill post the results here.

Unopened Wax Packs Banned By Ebay?

Per new policy, unopened and ungraded wax packs are no longer allowed to be listed on eBay. Thank god. I guess after the massive amounts of pre-searched and resealed wax, eBay has decided it would be best to stop that from happening. So far, this is only for true WAX packs, which is like plugging a hole in the bottom of the sinking ship, so its not the complete ban on single packs altogether that should be enforced. However, with so many one hit per pack products out there, that would be pretty tough.

Of course, this is only ONE of the thousands of scams out there in the sports card section of eBay, but at least its a start. I hope this continues and is not reversed by the douchebags out there who make their poor man's living off this shit. 

At least the people who buy the opened wrappers of 1986 Fleer Basketball and insert 15 commons instead of that possible Jordan RC they advertise, wont be able to continue scamming. 

One scam down, one million to go.

Just Because The Card Is Worth $500, Doesnt Mean Someone Wont Destroy It

A few readers sent in this auction link of a seller who wanted to prove that a recently sold Peterson chest logo SPA Patch Auto was fake. See, of all the patches to fake, I would expect that this one would be the least likely to top the list due to the shear scope of the cost of the card. Then again, we have seen Exquisite Peterson fakes, and other fakes of this SPA card, so the lesson is this:

JUST BECAUSE ITS HIGH END, DOESNT MEAN YOU ARE SAFE.

The too good to be true rules still apply, and basically it comes down to not taking a chance. Yes, it is a cool card, but why risk the fake patch? Why not buy a 3-color for a similar price and be sure it is real. SPAs are frequently faked, though UD has been good about removing the auctions they know to be fake. Some of them will continue to get through as I have mentioned here before, but its still something that needs to be planted in the minds of collectors. Nothing is safe anymore, and if someone can make a buck or two by switching out the patch, THEY WILL. They are fucking scum, and should be castrated to prevent more of them from entering the gene pool.

Listen people, dont be idiots out there, and though there are quite a few people who will continue to be idiots, it does not give you free reign on both ends of this scam.



ADDENDUM: Just because a card is slabbed does not mean it is real, just another way the scammers get you. See, even though Beckett may authenticate the card, there is nothing they will authenticate about a patch. Now, aside from the arbitrary and exceedingly stupid practice of authenticating cards (especially post 1995), the scammers use this available resource as a way to lure you into a dumb purchase. Even if Beckett were to say something is real, a la SPA NFL Logo patches from Tomlinson's RC year, why would it be in your best interest to believe them? Why are they the preeminent authenticators of patches, especially with all the fakes out there? Yes, yes, I know some are ridiculously obvious, but when it comes to others, they arent necessarily a green smurf in smurfville. I dont put any trust in Beckett either way, but some of you might when it comes to seeing the authentic slabs. In fact, if a card was in an authentic slab, I would AUTOMATICALLY stay away, as it waives red flags all over my alarm system.

Again, why even risk it?

When Stupidity Attacks

I am putting the scam pulled by MelbourneBrokebackCowboy at the same level as this ridiculous auction. This seller is selling his "UNCIRCULATED" Jonathan Stewart UD heroes auto, and I almost want to shoot anyone who even thinks of bidding on this card.

Here are his words:

"08 UD FOOTBALL HEROES- JONATHAN STEWART UNCIRCULATED AUTO RC SP# 158/250! PANTHERS! PERFECT TO GRADE![...]DO YOU REMEMBER A FEW YEARS BACK, TO COLLECT YOUR FAVORITE STAR ATHLETES WAS REALLY FUN? YOU WOULD COLLECT, AND HAVE AS MANY DUPLICATE CARDS AS YOU COULD HANDLE. BUT, IN THE SAME TIME IT WOULDNT PUT A DENT IN YOUR WALLET! (OH YES, THE GOOD OL' DAYS!) WELL, I AM BRINGING THOSE DAYS BACK HERE AGAIN! WITH ALL NEW AUCTIONS BY TRUBLUE87! ALL OF MY AUCTIONS WILL START OUT AT $0.55! AND I WILL COMBINE ALL SHIPPING COSTS!!!!!! ALL CARDS ARE IN NM-MT CONDITION (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED!)"

Good story. Compelling, and rich. Despite all the caps, the stupid concept, and the ridiculous description, there is one simple problem with this auction that most people would spot in a second...

...the card is a UD card in a Topps uncirculated holder.

Good call there chief, really top notch work. On top of all this, the person brings forth a follow up to my post from yesterday, or more importantly brings forth the fucking stupid ass idea of grading an uncirculated card. Why in god's name would you de-case an already encased card, just so that you can get it into ANOTHER ugly holder with an obvious grade. Stupidity at its finest, I really love these.

YouTube Scam Exposed

I kind of feel obligated to talk about this, as a public service, despite Mario already covering it. A lot of people have been talking about the group break scams that have been run by some douche named MelbourneCowboys. Apparently, he busts some boxes of Exquisite, but only shows 5 of the 6 packed out cards from the break. There is a pretty heated video analysis thread going on over at FCB, and I think everyone is pretty sure that this guy has stolen quite a bit from the people in his break. Its one thing to rig the team drawings, as that is much harder to track, but to actually leave a card out of the break, that is crazy, and fucking obvious.

See, if you had a link to the videos - they all have been taken down - you would see that he clearly has six cards from one of the breaks, but ends up only mentioning 5 (see screen cap below). The other card is then either kept, or sold under his eBay name. If you look at his completed auctions, he has some pretty nice stuff. However, its not ridiculous enough to draw attention. According to some people who have questioned him about the breaks, the cards were obtained when he "went to a shop" and "busted them."


(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Regardless of what is analysed by the people on his videos, this guy clearly has a lot of demons and youtubers to deal with. Im not sure which is worse. People may shit on ARPlatinum for participating in his own breaks, but at least he shows the cards in a clear camera with the pack IN FRONT of him. I think it bears repeating that you buy into the integrity of the breaker as well as the box itself, and I wouldnt have trusted this guy at all. Here's hoping the guys from the break can file claims and get their money back.

On another note, stay tuned for another SCU break coming up...

...kidding.

Great Article On Presidential Sig Fakes In Razor and UD

Thanks to Sonic for this link to an amazing article on the presidential signatures featured in both Razor Oval Office and in UD's signs of history sets. We all know that Presidential signatures can come from hundreds of non-genuine sources, but you would think that the companies would be more careful than the average joe. Obviously they did not take the level of care we should expect, and if you paid $2500 for a Razor pack authenticated by Beckett and JSA, and got one of these cards, I would be livid. 

For all the transparency that Brian Grey may feign, the subject of this article obviously was shunned by both him and also UD's upper management. That only further cements the ideas about Razor, and also UD. 

We just spoke about how Card Sharks has become immediately relevant once again,  and this is one of those things that make it so. 

Please, check it out.

EDIT: More info from Card Informant? Who knows what is up now.

Is It Really That Shocking?

Before March of 2008, the only known scam on the market was related to stuff perpetrated by secondary market collectors, mainly fake cards, fake patches, and trimmed cards, etc. Any manufacturer stuff, wasnt prevelant at the time. People just didnt have it on their mind. Mainly people focused their hatred of manufacturers through their thoughts about redemptions and how they were the devil because of the ridiculous time frame that was needed for them. There really wasn’t a widespread feeling of the industry operating under the table in underhanded techniques. Most people didn’t even think poorly about Beckett due to their enormous message board and magazine. Even though the guide was out of date and really didn’t make much sense, people didn’t really care.

Then we were exposed, almost brick in the face style, to what could happen when scams are perpetrated by the manufacturers rather than the collectors on the secondary market. It pained more people to see the magazine that they loved as kid be at the forefront of it, mainly due to their obvious prior notification of the reception of the scam boxes. This was a new era in cards.

Immediately, within hours, there were consipiracy theories that dated back pre-youtube and video breaks, automatically assuming that this was only the first UNCOVERED scheme of unethical behavior, and really there were tons of instances before that time which were never brought to light. Manufacturers were almost assumed to supply their best customers with loaded boxes and cases, and there were plenty other ideas that were thrown out there. It was always sort of a "my cousin's friend" type of thing, but it made sense at the time.

Simultaneously, Card Sharks became completely relevant again. What was McWilliams up to now? What scam was he pulling to fatten his wallet all over again, just like in 1989? The question was very relevant and still is. I had an epiphany at that time, and I consider myself a saved Joe Collector since that point when the house of cards (no pun intended) came tumbling down.

Personally, Card Sharks is/was not shocking to me in the least. Im sure there is stuff today that makes those 1989 scams look like an 8 track when compared to a CD. I have always preached that where ever there is money to be made, someone will be there to exploit it. When stuff comes to light, some people even shield themselves from it to prevent any preconceived trust from being destroyed. We are just not equipped to deal a leader in the industry also being the worst thing for it.

Whether its "game used" swatches that really werent used in games despite their labeling, or handing over the best cards to all the best customers instead of packing them out, I guarantee it has happened and it will surely continue. If you add in a guy like McWilliams, who's ethics have already been tainted by previous experiences that have come to light, anything becomes part of the realm of possibility.

That means, for me, when I see this stuff come to be known, I become happy that we get to see it. It doesn’t shock me, but it does make me angry. I will say that when something big does happen, and there is an inkling of proof of wrongdoing, it will not stop with me and this blog. Collectors are more informed now, the global community is tiny in the space between communication thanks to the internet, which means if you do something bad, its going to come out somehow. When it does, get ready for the shitstorm of anger that will rain down upon you in both words and wallets. The card industry is teetering on extinction, lets hope the execs realize this fact, and change their ways. It’s a pipe dream, I know, but I havent given up hope in change.

Yet...