Don't Get Ripped Off By Counterfeit Autographed Memorabilia

By Dan Anderson

If you happen to be a sports fan, then you probably already know how popular collecting signed sports memorabilia has become; however, it has also become a lucrative market for those who deal in fraudulent merchandise. Autographed memorabilia is valuable not just to big time collectors but to the die hard fans as well. To learn that you have been cheated can be very frustrating and disheartening, specifically when you have purchased something that you thought was real, only to find out later that it's a worthless, cheap knock-off.

Unfortunately, it has become too easy for some dishonest individuals to sell sports related items as authentic memorabilia. Many people are simply oblivious they're being scammed. Evidently, you want to be able to shop for and buy your memorabilia from a reputable source, like at a sports venue, so as to be sure that what you are buying is of high quality and authentic. But if the individual or dealer isn't able to provide evidence of genuineness, then just leave.

Have you ever heard the saying, "If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is? Well, that same idea applies to authentic autographed sports memorabilia too. If it seems very cheap, then you need to think about whether or not a true collector or dealer would really sell any piece of autographed memorabilia for that amount of money. Although a private seller may not know the true value of what they are selling, it's not likely.

The most difficult area in which to spot phonies or counterfeits is if you're collecting autographed sports collectibles, seeing that a number of famous sports cards have been found to be counterfeit. Make sure to do some investigation to determine which ones are most in danger of being counterfeits and the various means by which you can attempt to tell the difference by yourself.

Since athletes are asked for their autographs quite often, and they usually have only a little time to do so, you will likely see slight variations in their signatures; however, it is still a good idea, if you can, to look at the autographed memorabilia that you are considering purchasing alongside something that the player is known to have signed. Or, there are companies out there that specialize in authenticating autograph signings and will usually do so for a fee, which is undoubtedly going to be less than what you may be out if the item turns out to be a fake. - 31411

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