Start with the cert number
Every PSA-graded card has a unique certification number printed on the label — usually an 8-digit number under the barcode. You can look up any cert number for free at psacard.com/cert. A genuine cert will show you the exact card, its grade, and a photo reference PSA has on file (for cards graded from late 2021 onward).
If the cert number doesn't exist in PSA's database, or it comes back showing a completely different card than the one in front of you, walk away. This is the single most reliable check, and it takes under a minute.
Look at the holder itself
PSA slabs (the sealed plastic holders) have a handful of consistent physical features that are hard to fake convincingly:
- Tamper-evident seal: genuine PSA holders are ultrasonically sealed. There should be no visible seam, glue residue, or way to open the case without breaking it.
- Label print quality: official labels use sharp, consistent typography. Blurry text, uneven spacing, or an off-shade of the PSA red label are red flags.
- Holographic label sticker: current-generation PSA labels include a hologram that shifts colour when tilted. A flat, printed-looking "hologram" is a warning sign.
- Weight and fit: the card should sit snugly with no rattle. A loose card in an otherwise sealed holder suggests the slab was tampered with.
Common fakes to watch for
The two scams we see discussed most often in the collecting community are:
- Fake slabs — a raw card sealed into a counterfeit holder with a printed label copying a real cert number (or an invalid one). The cert lookup catches this immediately.
- Card swapping — a genuine PSA holder that's been opened and had a lower-value card swapped in, then resealed by a third party. This is harder to catch without comparing the card against PSA's reference photo (where available) or knowing the card well.
Why this matters for us: every graded card we list is checked against its PSA cert and photographed against its listing photo before it ships. If anything ever looks off between what left our hands and what you received, contact us within 48 hours — see our authentication process for details.
Buying from a trusted seller still matters
Cert lookups protect you from outright fakes, but they don't replace buying from someone who stands behind what they sell. A seller with a long, verifiable track record — real reviews, real transaction history — is your best protection against the harder-to-spot issues like card swapping.