As this hobby has evolved, it has become incredibly dependent on third party graders and authenticators. Put something in a slab and it's just a heartbeat away from a world's record price. Bidders can't buy this stuff fast enough.
But we've known for a long time that countless altered, trimmed, and doctored cards find their way into slabs. And this has not dissuaded anybody from bidding on them, as long as the label tells them what they want to hear.
Now with the realization that fake autographs are finding their way into plastic, the hobby has received yet another black eye. And I'm guessing what our fellow board members have dug up on this thread is only the tip of the iceberg.
Something's gotta give. The hobby can't continue on this trajectory forever. TPG's have to find a way to build a better mousetrap. As it stands now, the mice are winning. At the very least, this is going to drive away a lot of collectors. As Corey said elsewhere, the role of provenance is going to play a bigger role in this industry down the road.
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