OT: 3.5 Million Dollar Scam - Pokemon Cards Certified by BBCE

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

The fact that he couldn't tell the difference is very alarming, is it not?

Completely agree. Different flavors of incompetence in this example.

[Peter_Spaeth]

What turned out to be in the other boxes? Or are those being returned "intact" and someday this happens again with unopened boxes?

[JeremyW]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What turned out to be in the other boxes? Or are those being returned "intact" and someday this happens again with unopened boxes?

They're all junk.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Completely agree. Different flavors of incompetence in this example.

Just spent about 2 hours down this rabbit hole including watching the video.


I'd call it greedy (though he admitted in 2020 he knew next to nothing about Pokemon, why turn it down when it can be a nice payday) and lazy/incompetent - What you highlighted "That he used the same procedure as with sports product" is F'n crazy!!! He looks at the way the tape is stuck to the box and the fact that there are striations in the label that match up with the striations in the cardboard it is stuck to, but doesn't check any of the fonts, the fact that a legit label is thermal printed (the fake one is not), etc !!!!??? As far as his "expertise" with packs etc. My $$ will stay in my pocket - fruit of the poisoned tree.
Apparently in the wake of this Steve has refused to authenticate any more pokemon products (Apparently in the Pokemon community there are known resealed pokemon packs in PSA slabs that Steve authenticated as well.
Allegedly in a conversation with someone in the Pokemon community (in 2020 I think) Steve stated he didn't think there was a way to tamper with foil packs!?

Just another example of all these "experts" we have laughing all the way to the bank, many times doing grossly insufficient due diligence, on a good day rendering opinions that are inconsistent and on a bad day that are entirely incompetent.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Just another example of all these "experts" we have laughing all the way to the bank, many times doing grossly insufficient due diligence, on a good day rendering opinions that are inconsistent and on a bad day that are entirely incompetent.

Absolutely. The hobby is now overly relying on third party assurances. Prices are reflecting that and the volume of errors and the millions of dollars in bad autos, game used, cards, etc is staggering.

IMO, had Logan Paul decided to not do the opening party on this case (again I feel it was for publicity purposes purely) I would guess it would have sold later for more assuming that Pokemon remained relevant.

The value in all of our authenticated items, legit or not accurately graded or not, is leaving them in their authenticated state. As long as the authentication company is still a going concern, the item will trade for more the next time...assuming the market is there for the collectible.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by hcv123

just spent about 2 hours down this rabbit hole including watching the video.


I'd call it greedy (though he admitted in 2020 he knew next to nothing about pokemon, why turn it down when it can be a nice payday) and lazy/incompetent - what you highlighted "that he used the same procedure as with sports product" is f'n crazy!!! He looks at the way the tape is stuck to the box and the fact that there are striations in the label that match up with the striations in the cardboard it is stuck to, but doesn't check any of the fonts, the fact that a legit label is thermal printed (the fake one is not), etc !!!!??? As far as his "expertise" with packs etc. My $$ will stay in my pocket - fruit of the poisoned tree.
Apparently in the wake of this steve has refused to authenticate any more pokemon products (apparently in the pokemon community there are known resealed pokemon packs in psa slabs that steve authenticated as well.
Allegedly in a conversation with someone in the pokemon community (in 2020 i think) steve stated he didn't think there was a way to tamper with foil packs!?

Just another example of all these "experts" we have laughing all the way to the bank, many times doing grossly insufficient due diligence, on a good day rendering opinions that are inconsistent and on a bad day that are entirely incompetent.

amen brother!

[Ronnie73]

I've watched multiple videos of wax that was certified and the cards were either packed with the wrong cards or there was so much moisture damage that none of the cards were good but the box sold as much as a box that could have had no moisture damage. Old wax and certain years in the 1990's-2000's that the cards stuck together, I would never take the chance.