A buyer’s guide to spotting fakes and forgeries

The overwhelming majority of sellers are honest — but every collector should know how to protect themselves. Whether you are bidding on trading cards, watches, designer goods or memorabilia, the same handful of checks will keep you out of trouble.

Before you bid

• Study the photos. Genuine listings show serial numbers, hallmarks, stitching, and engravings up close. Blurry photos of exactly the areas you need to see are a warning sign.
• Check the seller’s history. Reviews, past sales in the same category, and how long they have been on the platform all tell a story.
• Ask questions. A legitimate seller answers specifics happily. Use the “ask the seller” button — that conversation is on the record.
• Know the market price. If a $4,000 watch is starting at $200 with no reserve and no explanation, treat that as information.

Certification is your friend

For high-value categories, third-party grading and certification (PSA for cards, GIA for gemstones, CGC for comics) removes most of the guesswork. A certification number can usually be verified on the grader’s website in under a minute — do it before you bid, not after.

Finally, remember that every purchase on the platform is covered by our dispute process. If an item arrives and is not what was described, open a dispute from your dashboard and our team will step in.