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How to Spot a Fake Topps Baseball Card

Collecting baseball cards has been a hobby among sports enthusiasts for a long time. Certain baseball cards contain a high price value and can be sold or traded for a large sum of money. Over the years, card forgers have used high-tech scanners, software and digital cameras to produce what looks like the original baseball card in an attempt to trick someone into believing he is purchasing the authentic card. Knowing how to spot a counterfeit card will help ensure you don't get fooled into purchasing a fake card.

Things You'll Need

Black light

Instructions

- 1
  Notice the thickness of the baseball card. Feel the card in your hands. Older authentic cards are printed on thin card stock. Many counterfeit cards are printed on thicker card stock. Get used to the thickness of an authentic card to spot fake card stock.
- 2
  Observe the opacity of the card. Place a black light behind the baseball card. Vintage cards will show no signs of glow when lit up from behind. Counterfeit cards will light up and glow because of the optical brighteners used when forging the card.
- 3
  Observe the Topps logo on the back of the card. Notice the font of the name "Topps." Fake or reprinted cards might use a slightly different font on the back of the card.
- 4
  Look for printing imperfections in the text on the card. Topps cards with printing flaws were not placed in baseball card packs.
- 5
  Check the red bar background near the player's information on the back of the card. Authentic cards will show the red box centered on the card. Fake and reprinted cards show the red box reaching both sides of the card.

Sports Cards Collecting