EBay Scam: DO NOT BUY AUTOGRAPHS WITH COAs FROM THESE COMPANIES

[Tallguy1991]

Hey guys. I just stumbled across a dirt bag on eBay and as many of you will see right off the bat, as I did, he is selling a number of fake autographed items with “COAs” from at least 6 bogus companies. The seller, who’s eBay is screenshotted below, uses the handle “bestonthebloch.” Many/most of you who are reading this already know how risky buying autographs online is, but I’ve seen people post somewhat recently asking if items with “inPersonAuthentics” COAs are legit and I want to make sure it’s clear that they most certainly are not. inPersonAuthentics, PAAS, ForensicAuthentication.com, GlobalAuthentics, VS, and Atlantic Authentics are the “authenticators” according to the cheap holo stickers on the items in these photos, and they are all completely illegitimate outfits. The first red flag even before examining the COA is the prices: if the price is significantly below market during a worldwide sports memorabilia frenzy, something is amiss. People don’t sell things like this on eBay at a loss, and if you check Upper Deck’s site youll see that they don’t have anything with Jordans signature on it for less than $2500ish. That brings up a second red flag: almost all the athletes these guys are forging signatures of are signed to exclusive rights deals with a large hobby entity: MJ and LeBron>Upper Deck, Ja>Panini, Zion>Fanatics, etc etc so they aren’t going to randomly be signing for some outfit whose “corporate email” ends in aol.com. That, and Jordan probably isn’t likely to sign “Official League” cheap ass sold in a 5 gallon bucket baseballs any time soon. You’ll also notice when looking at the knockoff COAs that whoever is making them is intentionally modeling them after existing logos in the hobby.

TLDR: COAs are super easy to make look official in passing or to unexperienced collectors. DONT BUY AN AUTOGRAPH OFF OF EBAY UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!! The only COAs I would trust for non-card autographed items would be Upper Deck, Fanatics, MLB, Panini, and that’s really it.

The reason im all up in arms over this is that it’s pretty clear these guys largely prey on non-hobbyists looking to purchase an expensive and meaningful gift for a loved one, or new hobbyists trying to build a collection. That sucks, and I want to try and do my part to expose these thieves whenever I can.




















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[Tallguy1991]

https://live.autographmagazine.com/f...ipe-their-lead

^more info on “GA”


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[Lindy]

I have right in front of me autographs from each of your listed do not buy. and I am crying like a little baby. This really suks for me So every signature is definitely no good?

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by Lindy

I have right in front of me autographs from each of your listed do not buy. and I am crying like a little baby. This really suks for me So every signature is definitely no good?

What are the odds on your very first post to find this thread at the perfect time.

Incredible luck..

Well, now you know.

[gottagitdemjs]

I totally agree. There are probably a few that you are missing. I wish ebay would add them to their "persona non grata" list which would basically blackball them from the hobby. Yes, ebay has that kind of power.

[bmf]

Originally Posted by Lindy

I have right in front of me autographs from each of your listed do not buy. and I am crying like a little baby. This really suks for me So every signature is definitely no good?

One of the best first posts ever lmao

[pokemaniac]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

What are the odds on your very first post to find this thread at the perfect time.

Incredible luck..

Well, now you know.

I'd say pretty high considering most people understand a simple Google search.

[byronscott4ever]

The Jordan is on a cheapo baseball which is a red flag too

[ReggieBush22]

Originally Posted by Tallguy1991

Hey guys. I just stumbled across a dirt bag on eBay and as many of you will see right off the bat, as I did, he is selling a number of fake autographed items with “COAs” from at least 6 bogus companies. The seller, who’s eBay is screenshotted below, uses the handle “bestonthebloch.” Many/most of you who are reading this already know how risky buying autographs online is, but I’ve seen people post somewhat recently asking if items with “inPersonAuthentics” COAs are legit and I want to make sure it’s clear that they most certainly are not. inPersonAuthentics, PAAS, ForensicAuthentication.com, GlobalAuthentics, VS, and Atlantic Authentics are the “authenticators” according to the cheap holo stickers on the items in these photos, and they are all completely illegitimate outfits. The first red flag even before examining the COA is the prices: if the price is significantly below market during a worldwide sports memorabilia frenzy, something is amiss. People don’t sell things like this on eBay at a loss, and if you check Upper Deck’s site youll see that they don’t have anything with Jordans signature on it for less than $2500ish. That brings up a second red flag: almost all the athletes these guys are forging signatures of are signed to exclusive rights deals with a large hobby entity: MJ and LeBron>Upper Deck, Ja>Panini, Zion>Fanatics, etc etc so they aren’t going to randomly be signing for some outfit whose “corporate email” ends in aol.com. That, and Jordan probably isn’t likely to sign “Official League” cheap ass sold in a 5 gallon bucket baseballs any time soon. You’ll also notice when looking at the knockoff COAs that whoever is making them is intentionally modeling them after existing logos in the hobby.

TLDR: COAs are super easy to make look official in passing or to unexperienced collectors. DONT BUY AN AUTOGRAPH OFF OF EBAY UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!! The only COAs I would trust for non-card autographed items would be Upper Deck, Fanatics, MLB, Panini, and that’s really it.

The reason im all up in arms over this is that it’s pretty clear these guys largely prey on non-hobbyists looking to purchase an expensive and meaningful gift for a loved one, or new hobbyists trying to build a collection. That sucks, and I want to try and do my part to expose these thieves whenever I can.


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Steiner is pretty legit too. Although they don't have matching/numbered holograms but if you have the Steiner sticker on the item along with the COA card, that's pretty good to go.

[Brandoninsel]

https://heritageauthentication.com/

Does anybody have any issues with these guys? Looks, suspect. I received an auto from a buddy as a birthday gift which was certified by this company.

[bmf]

Originally Posted by Brandoninsel

https://heritageauthentication.com/

Does anybody have any issues with these guys? Looks, suspect. I received an auto from a buddy as a birthday gift which was certified by this company.

I wonder if Heritage Auctions knows about this. I could see where this would be confusing to collectors.

[Mandaue1]

Please also consider Mounted Memories, Tri-Star, Stacks of Plaques, Allen George Associates, Sports Collectibles of Houston for authentic certification. Most, if not all, of their autographed items are from products they have/had athletes sign at their own private/public sessions.

[Baraka]

I had a bad experience years ago with Steve from GA. Long story short, dude's a POS.