Beware of Fake Authentication Services and Dealer Impersonation Scams

One of the unfortunate realities of collecting is that, wherever there is money to be made, there will always be people looking to exploit unsuspecting collectors.

Over the years I’ve seen countless scams, from forged autographs and fake Certificates of Authenticity to sellers inventing impressive stories about where an item came from.

More recently, however, I was made aware of something different.

Thanks to fellow dealer Mark Kirkup, I discovered that another business had been using my name to help promote its own services. They are claiming i work with them authenticating signed football shirts, but a simple check of my site will confirm that the one thing i do not authenticate are signed football shirts! Sadly, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened, and I doubt it will be the last.

Several reputable dealers I know have experienced similar problems. In some cases, fraudsters have copied genuine Certificates of Authenticity and attached them to forged items. Others have falsely claimed an association with established dealers in an attempt to gain the trust of collectors.

The purpose is always the same – to make their business appear legitimate.

Professional Doesn’t Always Mean Genuine

Modern scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

They often have convincing websites, professional-looking logos, well-written descriptions and even impressive claims about their experience.

Some will tell you they’ve authenticated thousands of items.

Others claim decades of expertise.

A polished website should never be confused with genuine expertise.

Anyone can build a professional-looking website. Genuine knowledge and experience are much harder to fake.

Authentication Isn’t Guesswork

People often ask me whether authenticating an autograph is difficult.

In many cases, the process itself is relatively straightforward.

The difficult part is having the experience to recognise what you’re looking at.

Proper authentication relies on years of studying genuine signatures, understanding how they changed throughout a person’s lifetime, comparing them with known authentic examples and recognising the countless ways signatures have been forged or reproduced.

That knowledge isn’t acquired over a weekend or by reading a few books.

It takes years.

Which is why you should always be cautious of businesses that appear overnight claiming to authenticate virtually anything.

Be Wary of “Guaranteed Authentic”

Some companies appear to operate on a very simple business model.

For a fee, they’ll happily tell customers their autograph is genuine, often without even seeing it with their own eyes!

If little or no meaningful research has been carried out, that opinion has very little value.

Collectors often feel reassured when they receive a certificate or written opinion, but it’s worth remembering that a certificate is only as trustworthy as the person issuing it.

Always ask yourself one simple question:

Why should I trust this opinion?

How to Research an Authentication Company

Fortunately, there are several simple checks you can carry out before trusting any authentication service or dealer.

Check Their Contact Details

A genuine business should make it easy to contact them.

Can you quickly find:

A full business address?
A telephone number?
Clear contact information?

Businesses offering products or services should display these details clearly. If they’re difficult to find—or missing altogether—you should ask yourself why. UK consumer law confirms that any business offering a product or service MUST have their full contact details including a geographical address on the site which must be accessible before you make any purchase.

And do not assume that an address given is correct, its often worth checking on Google to see that the address does exist.

Research Their Background

Don’t simply believe what a website says.

If a company claims to have been trading for many years, there should usually be evidence.

Search for them online.

Look for independent references.

See whether respected collectors or dealers know who they are.

Check whether they’ve built a genuine reputation over time.

Experience leaves a trail.

Look Beyond Their Own Website

A business may also have a presence on platforms such as eBay, Facebook or Instagram.

How long have they been active?

Do they consistently specialise in the same area?

Do other collectors interact with them?

Again, you’re looking for evidence that supports the claims they’re making.

I could give you a list of dealer websites who can offer you almost any signature you want, and one website currently has over 12 fully signed Beatles albums on offer, and all of them well under the true market price as well, and surprise surprise, not one of them has full contact details on their sites!

If They’re Selling on eBay…

If an eBay seller appears to be operating as a business, check whether they are actually registered as one.

On every eBay listing you’ll see whether the seller is registered as a Business or a Private Seller.

That distinction is important.

Business sellers are required to comply with consumer legislation and provide buyers with additional legal protection.

Private sellers do not offer the same level of protection, and eBay itself warns buyers that certain consumer rights may not apply.

This doesn’t mean every private seller is dishonest—far from it—but if someone appears to be running a commercial operation while claiming to be a private seller, it’s worth taking a closer look.

If you’d like to know more about buying safely on eBay, read our guide How to Get a Refund for Fake Memorabilia on eBay.

Verify Independent Reviews

Many websites proudly display Trustpilot logos or review badges.

Don’t assume they’re genuine.

Click the links.

Do they take you to a genuine review profile?

Can you verify the reviews independently?

Or are they simply images designed to create confidence?

Always check for yourself.

Spend Five Minutes Before You Spend Your Money

One of the biggest mistakes collectors make is trusting the first convincing story they read.

Five minutes of research can often reveal information that could save you hundreds—or even thousands—of pounds.

Don’t rely solely on what a seller tells you.

Verify it independently.

Ask questions.

Do your homework.

The more valuable the item, the more important that research becomes.

The Bottom Line

Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated every year.

Some have convincing websites.

Some produce professional-looking certificates.

Some even misuse the names of established dealers in an attempt to gain credibility.

None of those things prove they are trustworthy.

The best protection any collector has is knowledge.

Take your time.

Research both the item and the person selling or authenticating it.

A little caution today can prevent a very expensive mistake tomorrow.

If you’d like to learn more about protecting yourself, you may also find these guides helpful:

About the Author

Garry King has been a full-time buyer, seller and collector of signed memorabilia for more than 35 years. He is the owner of Autografica.co.uk, has written extensively on autograph collecting and authentication, and has appeared on television, radio and in numerous newspaper and magazine features discussing the memorabilia hobby.

You can find out more about Garry King Authentication in the CollectorApproved directory.

Avoiding The Autograph Scammers!