Beware…Fake high value CGC books in Pacific Northwest 14 14

[BlowUpTheMoon]

The period in the 6.5 example (between the 6 and the 5) is a circle.  The period in the 9.0 copy (between the 9 and the 0) is more egg/oval shaped. 

Edited February 20, 2023 by BlowUpTheMoon

[WolverineX]

Knew this was going to happen.. wanted to buy bigger books before the fake slabs show up.  Comics have just gotten so expensive... the risk is worth it now

[WolverineX]

Eventually they'll make labels that look exactly like the real one

[WolverineX]

Maybe CGC needs  blockchain tech that provides provenance for prior slab owners

[mysterymachine]

On 2/19/2023 at 7:51 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

The period in the 6.5 example (between the 6 and the 5) is a circle.  The period in the 9.0 copy (between the 9 and the 0) is more egg/oval shaped. 

The font is slightly narrower. You can see the differences in the letter M/m as well.

[Black_Adam]

Hope these scammers get caught and punished.

I did wonder about one comment in the FB post: "...don't hesitate to crack open a CGC slab to make sure the book inside is real."

[500Club]

On 2/19/2023 at 10:01 PM, mysterymachine said:

The font is slightly narrower. You can see the differences in the letter M/m as well.

The capital ‘H’ in Hulk has different proportions, as well.

[southern cross]

I help out at a comic shop and whenever someone comes in selling books, I mean big books not a pile of books for say $50.

They need to show valid id and their id has a picture taken of it and they are written out a check.

They don't like that then no deal.

For dealers the big problem can be stolen books. If they are bought and find out later stolen then the shop loses it's money but at least has a pic of the id of a potential person selling stolen merch.

[godzilla43]

That fake Hulk slab looks good. Easy to say NOW that the label looks fake etc. 

[KCOComics]

 

I've been collecting since CGCs inception and I can assure you, I wouldn't have picked up on the differences in the label.  If the slab looked untampered with and the comic had no discerning indications of being fake, I'm sure I would have easily been dooped. 

The only thing that would give me pause is the story.  In today's day and age, it seems odd that comics of that stature would make their way to an estate sale. Especially graded ones.  I'm sure it could and does happen, but often when things sound to good to be true, they are. 

[VintageComics]

On 2/19/2023 at 10:15 PM, Terry JSA said:

The label should’ve been an immediate red flag. If you’ve been doing comics for 40+ years, you would notice the 6.5 was way off.

Not everyone has the same eye for small details. 

On 2/19/2023 at 8:37 PM, DWL said:

Something seems odd.  Is it normal to request the name and address of someone you buy books from? 

For many dealers is. In fact, you SHOULD be asking to see ID before doing a deal as you want recourse if the goods are stolen, let alone fakes. 

Not everyone does but it's a good practice. 

[VintageComics]

On 2/19/2023 at 11:28 PM, WolverineX said:

Eventually they'll make labels that look exactly like the real one

On 2/19/2023 at 11:31 PM, WolverineX said:

Maybe CGC needs  blockchain tech that provides provenance for prior slab owners

You can bet your butt CGC / Blackstone are looking for a solution to this.

The only reason CGC is in business is because they build trust into the product. If you eliminate the trust you no longer have a product.

There's no way they're going to let a $500 Million + company slide into obsolescence because of some criminals. 

[VintageComics]

On 2/19/2023 at 8:33 PM, Domo Arigato said:

On 2/19/2023 at 7:27 PM, VintageComics said:

The name of the scammer in the listing sounds like someone well known in the NW. Obviously he can't reveal the full name due to the police investigation but I think most old timers know who it is. 

He posted these in part two.

I missed the part two. Thanks!

It is possible if they did NOT show ID that the names are faked. 

[Sigur Ros]

On 2/20/2023 at 4:56 AM, VintageComics said:

The only reason CGC is in business is because they build trust into the product. If you eliminate the trust you no longer have a product.

There's no way they're going to let a $500 Million + company slide into obsolescence because of some criminals. 

You're talking about a company who missed incorrect back covers on at least 3 books (that I know of) in a pedigree collection they made a huge deal over, not to mention all the overgrading in that same collection and their daily struggle to get correct labels on books.   

What trust are you talking about?

[Larryw7]

I remember the founders of CGC telling us they were leading collectors out of the "wild west" of the pre slabbing era. How has that been working for y'all?

[oldmilwaukee6er]

Hopefully CGC will keep the boards up on any legal / follow up actions taken in regard to this matter .

[WolverineX]

This is pretty incredible stuff

[Dick Pontoon]

Every aspect of this story sounds wonky to me. Like Terry said, you'd think somebody with 40 years experience would notice the difference. Some folks here have said they'd have trouble spotting the typographical mistakes Blowie pointed out, but I think they would be even more obvious with the books in hand. And is this guy really a dealer? His FB post says he's been "doing comics for 40 years." Doesn't "doing" mean he's basically a collector? I can't imagine any of the full-time dealers I know buying books of this caliber via a Facebook posting. And who on earth would post books like this on Facebook? It stinks this poor soul got ripped off, but the selling of the most expensive and coveted books in the hobby at bargain basement prices is as old a scam as the Nigerian prince email.

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 2/20/2023 at 4:52 AM, VintageComics said:

On 2/19/2023 at 10:15 PM, Terry JSA said:

The label should’ve been an immediate red flag. If you’ve been doing comics for 40+ years, you would notice the 6.5 was way off.

Not everyone has the same eye for small details. 

Even though the differences seem minor, my brain picked up that something was off with the 6.5 immediately upon seeing the Hulk 1 pic.   Look at a specific font long enough, and you’re definitely going to notice any variation. 

[WolverineX]

On 2/20/2023 at 9:10 AM, THE_BEYONDER said:

Even though the differences seem minor, my brain picked up that something was off with the 6.5 immediately upon seeing the Hulk 1 pic.   Look at a specific font long enough, and you’re definitely going to notice any variation. 

true, but at some point, those fonts could be an exact duplicate and then what do we do...