When it comes to fake patches and fake cards, its like a terrorist network in the fact that newbies pop up almost every day, and even if you manage to end a major player, another usurps the power and takes over where one left off. The last time I posted about fakes, I got blasted for the way it was done, besides the fact that in many cases, these cards are easy to spot. The shitty thing about fake patches especially, is that the fakers are past the point of leaving obvious and trackable trails of their douchebaggery. Basically, if you want before and after for every fake patch out there, its not like it used to be. Most of it is gut feeling, knowledge of targets, and examining seller items. Outside of that, there is nothing more to provide.
So, let me reiterate, that every fake I post about is my expert opinion and nothing more. Sometimes the evidence is too strong to discount, and in other cases, its questionable. Luckily for me, not every scammer has the know how to blend in appropriately, and Dylan_507 is definitely one of those guys.
I got an email from one of his victims today, just letting me know that he had gotten scammed, and once I started looking into the evidence, it was beyond overwhelming. The guy not only sells fake patches and fake rookie premiere autos, but he also sells an ass ton of GAI authenticated autos, which for those in the know, is basically letting your freak flag fly.
Here are some of my recent favorites from this guy, who may or may not have created the actual fakes:
Jamaal Charles AFL Logo Patch SPA Auto You gotta love stuff like this. AFL anniversary was in 2009, this card is from 2008 and yet it has the commemorative patch. Lovely.
Chad Henne Dolphin Head Logo Patch – Although SPA had some of these types of patches, the good fakers leave some jersey in there to give more legitimacy to the patch. You rarely see bad fakes anymore that do the whole window, and this is definitely one of those cards when you see the others he has done.
Grant Fuhr The Cup Logo Patch Auto – See above, basically the same situation.
Calvin Johnson Fake Rookie Premiere – I know this is fake, not a question. Part of the Kevin Burge collection of fine art.
Albert Pujols Cardinals Jumbo Logo Patch – I didn’t think scammers were still faking the old donruss cards, but alas, here it is. I love that its out of 493. Makes it even better.
Mike Wallace SPA Laundry Tag Logo Most SPA collectors know that the set doesn’t use tags. Brand logos and jersey logos yes, but the league logos are 1/1 and the centering on the logo in this card is hilarious.
Eli Manning NFL Logo FOTG Patch – Nope, no NFL logos in this set, and if there were logos, they would be 1/1.
Adrian Peterson Fake Rookie Premiere Auto – Ha, this one is funny. Back to the original fake premiere autos that were drawn by a five year old with jumbo magic markers.
See, if anyone ever bothered to check seller history, they could see how bad this idiot has been over the last few months. Its not even a question when you see the whole body of work, and its even less of a question when you see the mismatched patches.
Remember, the only defense against fakes is education, and there is no reason to risk buying a fake if there is any doubt in your mind. Check history, do a google search for the seller name, and send out some emails to people to get second opinions. Don’t think for a second that anything is safe. That’s just the hobby we are in.
Well the fake Chris Johnson exquisite rc autos just keep coming in… There are 2 up for sale that are so obvious…i wish oh so I wish the FBI would crack down on these criminals… It has made me save money as I use to spend alot of money on logo exquisite cards until I found out about 8 out of every 10 is fake. … Ugh
Since you started doing this with the fake auto’s and patches, I won’t touch any card unless one I pull it or I see it pulled from the pack, not that educated with fakes, but I’m not taking any chances.
Although I wont mention names at this time, 2 guys who I have worked alot of shows with over the last couple years make a killing doing this stuff. I accidentally overheard a conversation they were having about how one of them paid $80 for a Calvin Johnson 1 color NT rookie and after dropping a 3 color into it sold it for $150. One of them claims to be the original owner/creator of the Peterson Exquisite Viking Head.
Although I take what I hear from douchebags at shows with a grain of salt, when they showed me the stack of Rookie Premiere AP & Calvin autos they owned (made), I am convinced they are making money hand over fist JUST from selling high end Lions/NFL stuff at local Detroit shows. I will admit that the Rookie Premiere autos didnt look too bad, and to the uneducated person they would probably pass as legit.
I’m setting up at a big show in Taylor, MI next weekend, so if they’re there I’ll see if I can take a picture of their showcases to post and for everyone to get a good laugh at.
Anyone coming to the show need a shopping list filled?
What’s the FBI gonna do? afterall they are just trading cards, honestly I think the Adrian Peterson Vikings head card looks cool, even though it’s fake I would still buy it and I know alot of people that would as well,(not pay over 300 bucks for it) if it’s a good price, hell I just saw on eBay a 100% Sam Bradford booklet that someone had made and signed and the signature looked like bradford’s signature of course they said it’s completely fake, and people still bidded on it..hell I have a really cool (faked) Sam Bradford custom patch card that someone had gotten the Rookie and Stars #202 and took an authentic Rams jersey cut out the Ram head and glued it in there….This card looks wicked man….all I need to do is have Sam Bradford sign it (which I will soon becasue I know him) and this card would be displayed in my case for all to see….sometimes Custom cards (fakes) can enhance a collection.
for the record I don’t condone fakes but someone I believe people make exception, I do sometimes (I have about 2-3 known fakes and I will never sell them but man they do look wicked) I have never seen a Adrian Peterson Viking Head card in person but if I did it would be hard for me to turn in down if the price was right ….like I said sometimes there are exceptions
You guys are crazy.with the amount of money they are stealing from people the FBI could charge them with alot of crimes.these guys are making serious money and they took me out of the logo market.I do not want to own fakes…No Ty. I think that would go for alot of true collectors
One interesting aspect to the whole fake patch dilemma the fact that card manufacturers are becoming increasingly vague as to how they obtained the jerseys or patches contained in their cards. How do we know if the jerseys the card companies use are game-used or not? I suspect in some cases the card companies may be just as guilty as Dylan_507 in misleading consumers as to the origin of the patch. If the companies were more clear on where their patches come from I’d be a lot more upset that people are altering cards. What does it matter if Topps puts a 1-color patch in a card, or Dylan_507 replaces it with a 3-color patch if neither party obtained their patch from a game-used jersey? I’m not defending fakers. I’m calling on card companies to be more explicit and up front about where patches come from and also take measures to cut down on fakes. (Plates & Patches was a good start)
Statement from the back of a Topps Supreme 1/1 patch card: “The relics contained in this card are not from any specific game, event or season.”
Sounds more like an alibi than a guarantee.
this guy lives in Cranston, Rhode Island. which can’t be too far from me. If someone posts and address i can get more information. I know of some shops in Cranston, and I hope it isn’t the same guy. It is a pretty small collector base around here, so chances are I know who he is.
I would be really pissed off if my tax dollars was being spent on the FBI developing state of the art ways to improve catching Card fakers…. The trading card business is a hobby nonetheless, its a “enter at your own risk” thing….I do not condone fakes at all but Brandon said it best…..
“becoming increasingly vague as to how they obtained the jerseys or patches contained in their cards. How do we know if the jerseys the card companies use are game-used or not? I suspect in some cases the card companies may be just as guilty as Dylan_507 in misleading consumers as to the origin of the patch. If the companies were more clear on where their patches come from I’d be a lot more upset that people are altering cards. What does it matter if Topps puts a 1-color patch in a card, or Dylan_507 replaces it with a 3-color patch if neither party obtained their patch from a game-used jersey?”..
Without the support from the Card Company themselves,card could be a fake, but thats the risk something are going to have to take….I have the Biggest/Best Sam Bradford Collection…period and it would not surprise me if a couple of them were fakes.
Without the support from the Card Company themselves like serial numbering the jersey with the documented jersey they have on file or something of that nature, without any true accountability every card could be a fake. and that becomes the risk that everyone must take are going to have to take. If we are to be totally fear of fakes than we should stay away from 1/1’s jumbo auto’s and so forth……I have the Biggest/Best Sam Bradford Collection…period and it would not surprise me if a couple of them were fakes.