Fraudulent Certificates of Authenticity (COAs) are one of the most common tools used to deceive buyers on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Scammers routinely print their own COAs, borrow templates from defunct companies, manipulate serial numbers, or attach generic certificates to forged autographs, mass-produced prints, and replica memorabilia. Because most buyers assume a COA automatically proves authenticity, these fakes are highly effective—and financially damaging.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 530 provides a complete, non-destructive workflow for identifying fake, altered, or misleading COAs online. This guide explains the differences between legitimate documentation and fabricated paperwork, teaches you how to verify serial numbers, outlines the most common scam tactics, and provides clear red flags to recognize before purchasing an item.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify generic, templated, or copy-and-paste COA designs
Distinguish authentic certification formatting from amateur forgeries
Verify serial numbers, holograms, QR codes, and database records
Recognize misspellings, poor grammar, incorrect logos, and formatting inconsistencies
Detect fake companies, defunct issuers, and unverifiable “authentication services”
Spot Photoshopped COAs, altered screenshots, and digital fabrications
Understand how scammers pair fake COAs with forged autographs and replicas
Evaluate the item independently without relying on the COA
Assess whether the issuer is a reputable authentication company
Apply a complete non-destructive workflow to determine COA credibility
Whether you're buying autographs, artwork, sports memorabilia, historical documents, or collectibles, this guide provides the essential framework needed to separate legitimate provenance from fraudulent paperwork—and avoid costly online scams.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Fraudulent Certificates of Authenticity (COAs) are one of the most common tools used to deceive buyers on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Scammers routinely print their own COAs, borrow templates from defunct companies, manipulate serial numbers, or attach generic certificates to forged autographs, mass-produced prints, and replica memorabilia. Because most buyers assume a COA automatically proves authenticity, these fakes are highly effective—and financially damaging.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 530 provides a complete, non-destructive workflow for identifying fake, altered, or misleading COAs online. This guide explains the differences between legitimate documentation and fabricated paperwork, teaches you how to verify serial numbers, outlines the most common scam tactics, and provides clear red flags to recognize before purchasing an item.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify generic, templated, or copy-and-paste COA designs
Distinguish authentic certification formatting from amateur forgeries
Verify serial numbers, holograms, QR codes, and database records
Recognize misspellings, poor grammar, incorrect logos, and formatting inconsistencies
Detect fake companies, defunct issuers, and unverifiable “authentication services”
Spot Photoshopped COAs, altered screenshots, and digital fabrications
Understand how scammers pair fake COAs with forged autographs and replicas
Evaluate the item independently without relying on the COA
Assess whether the issuer is a reputable authentication company
Apply a complete non-destructive workflow to determine COA credibility
Whether you're buying autographs, artwork, sports memorabilia, historical documents, or collectibles, this guide provides the essential framework needed to separate legitimate provenance from fraudulent paperwork—and avoid costly online scams.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Image 1 of 1