UFC card scams / traps to watch out for Oth

NewbiefromUK · 01-30-2024, 04:50 PM

Hi there. I'm new to the trading card hobby and have been dabbling with UFC cards.

Like most newbies (I assume) I have wasted money buying over-priced cards that have no value. However, I am now taking my time and doing research.

Over the past few days I have researched 5/6 cards that I liked the look of as they were cheap, on auction, at Ebay. My findings:

1 - Using 130point (and validated with Ebay history) I found a seller from Australia, with thousands of good feedback, was selling a numbered card that they had already sold in December. Perhaps the buyer didn't pay so they relisted it...but the same seller had done the exact same thing with another unrelated numbered card in the same timeframe! Seems suspicious to me.
2 - Using 130point/ebay history I found a seller from US, with thousands of good feedback, was selling a numbered card that a DIFFERENT seller had sold in December. It's definitely the same card and has been registered to PSA.
3 - Same thing for yet another card from the US without PSA. But this time I couldn't tell if the seller was the same each time the card sold in two consecutive months.

Bearing in mind I've only researched 5/6 cards I can't help but feel there is something up here. Are people faking cards and selling them multiple times?

Is your first reaction this is fraud or are returns common place for whatever reason? Even if yes, that doesn't explain the second scenario where a different seller had sold the exact same numbered card really recently.

What other scams / traps exist that I should be aware of?

PS: the cards in question are definitely the same. It's not like they are 'gold' and 'gold disco' but numbered the same.

NewbiefromUK · 01-30-2024, 04:55 PM

On point 2 - for clarification - the buyer who won the auction was not the person then selling the card. It was a different seller. Hence why I'm wondering if there are fake duplicates in the market.

sthoemke · 01-30-2024, 05:04 PM

Several possibilities:

Serial numbers can get double printed. It's rare, but it can happen.

A seller might have a non-paying bidder, and relists the card.

A buyer of a card might be reselling (flipping) the same card.

Crashingwaves · 01-30-2024, 07:45 PM

Welcome to the UFC hobby!.... Been mma cards since 1995 and the 1st lic product was in 2009 (Topps round 1). Panini just got the lic in 2021... and were a disappointment with over produced, over hyped and over priced cards (still some nice rookies).... Topps had the lic previously and are getting back this year (but they are now owned by fanatics).

This website will help in your search for true rookies etc - https://www.mmarookies.com/

Some IGs to check out for old cards.... ufccardfather and mine - Huskytabby.

The FB groups are very active... but lots of scammers these days. Do your research and have patience is good advice as well

Crashingwaves · 01-30-2024, 07:47 PM

To answer your question.... lots of 'fake' sales on ebay to raise comps.... hence do your research which it looks like you are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashingwaves

Welcome to the UFC hobby!.... Been mma cards since 1995 and the 1st lic product was in 2009 (Topps round 1). Panini just got the lic in 2021... and were a disappointment with over produced, over hyped and over priced cards (still some nice rookies).... Topps had the lic previously and are getting back this year (but they are now owned by fanatics).

This website will help in your search for true rookies etc - https://www.mmarookies.com/

Some IGs to check out for old cards.... ufccardfather and mine - Huskytabby.

The FB groups are very active... but lots of scammers these days. Do your research and have patience is good advice as well

NewbiefromUK · 01-31-2024, 08:13 AM

Thank you. That link is really helpful.

NewbiefromUK · 01-31-2024, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashingwaves

To answer your question.... lots of 'fake' sales on ebay to raise comps.... hence do your research which it looks like you are.

Oh interesting. So the market faces issues with fake sales more so than fake cards? I'd imagine it's extremely difficult to fake a card...although the motive is there given the values especially with NBA and NFL cards.

Crashingwaves · 01-31-2024, 09:37 AM

Back in the day... we had issues with fake cards but not fake sales (I even bought a few but you could tell they were fake.... from 2009 Topps Round 1 and 2)

Since the Panini era started and prices went crazy, lots of shenanigan's occurring with fake sales. Or bidders run an auction up and don't pay. All to raise comps so they could sell the same card at a higher price. Believe this is happening in all sports. Hence why you see such insane price fluctuations. Be wary of the hype, dont follow the mob.

Who or what do you want to collect.... lots of OGs are willing to help with feedback. We hate this taint on the hobby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewbiefromUK

Oh interesting. So the market faces issues with fake sales more so than fake cards? I'd imagine it's extremely difficult to fake a card...although the motive is there given the values especially with NBA and NFL cards.

NewbiefromUK · 01-31-2024, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashingwaves

Back in the day... we had issues with fake cards but not fake sales (I even bought a few but you could tell they were fake.... from 2009 Topps Round 1 and 2)

Since the Panini era started and prices went crazy, lots of shenanigan's occurring with fake sales. Or bidders run an auction up and don't pay. All to raise comps so they could sell the same card at a higher price. Believe this is happening in all sports. Hence why you see such insane price fluctuations. Be wary of the hype, dont follow the mob.

Who or what do you want to collect.... lots of OGs are willing to help with feedback. We hate this taint on the hobby.

Thank you so much, this is very insightful. It makes perfect sense now why I've found what I have. I did think fake cards was unlikely.

I'm from England so was looking at Paddy and Tom cards, but I also stumbled across a signed, low numbered, RC, foreign fighter card that looked great value so researched it and found suspicious behaviour.

Me too, it has tainted my enjoyment already. I'm going to sell some of my cards before buying anymore I think.

I've also seen some intentional misleading details on Ebay listings which also taints the hobby. But fortunately I am savvy to it.

Crashingwaves · 01-31-2024, 02:58 PM

FYI - Lots of fans have made 'custom cards'.... I wouldn't consider them fake.... just need to know they are custom (most will mention this)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewbiefromUK

Thank you so much, this is very insightful. It makes perfect sense now why I've found what I have. I did think fake cards was unlikely.

I'm from England so was looking at Paddy and Tom cards, but I also stumbled across a signed, low numbered, RC, foreign fighter card that looked great value so researched it and found suspicious behaviour.

Me too, it has tainted my enjoyment already. I'm going to sell some of my cards before buying anymore I think.

I've also seen some intentional misleading details on Ebay listings which also taints the hobby. But fortunately I am savvy to it.

YayNJ · 02-07-2024, 10:53 AM

The 'custom' cards that have flooded the UFC market are deliberately made to look as close to classic Topps and Panini cards as possible.

They are 'Fakes' in every sense of the word. Some will argue they are 'cool' but they are there just to take advantage of new buyers like yourself.

01-30-2024, 04:50 PM	#1
NewbiefromUK Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 5	UFC card scams / traps to watch out for Oth Hi there. I'm new to the trading card hobby and have been dabbling with UFC cards. Like most newbies (I assume) I have wasted money buying over-priced cards that have no value. However, I am now taking my time and doing research. Over the past few days I have researched 5/6 cards that I liked the look of as they were cheap, on auction, at Ebay. My findings: 1 - Using 130point (and validated with Ebay history) I found a seller from Australia, with thousands of good feedback, was selling a numbered card that they had already sold in December. Perhaps the buyer didn't pay so they relisted it...but the same seller had done the exact same thing with another unrelated numbered card in the same timeframe! Seems suspicious to me. 2 - Using 130point/ebay history I found a seller from US, with thousands of good feedback, was selling a numbered card that a DIFFERENT seller had sold in December. It's definitely the same card and has been registered to PSA. 3 - Same thing for yet another card from the US without PSA. But this time I couldn't tell if the seller was the same each time the card sold in two consecutive months. Bearing in mind I've only researched 5/6 cards I can't help but feel there is something up here. Are people faking cards and selling them multiple times? Is your first reaction this is fraud or are returns common place for whatever reason? Even if yes, that doesn't explain the second scenario where a different seller had sold the exact same numbered card really recently. What other scams / traps exist that I should be aware of? PS: the cards in question are definitely the same. It's not like they are 'gold' and 'gold disco' but numbered the same.

01-30-2024, 05:04 PM	#3
sthoemke Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 6,456 sthoemke sthoemke	Several possibilities: Serial numbers can get double printed. It's rare, but it can happen. A seller might have a non-paying bidder, and relists the card. A buyer of a card might be reselling (flipping) the same card. __________________ [signature goes here]

01-30-2024, 04:55 PM	#2
NewbiefromUK Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 5	On point 2 - for clarification - the buyer who won the auction was not the person then selling the card. It was a different seller. Hence why I'm wondering if there are fake duplicates in the market.

01-30-2024, 07:45 PM	#4
Crashingwaves Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Posts: 364 crashingwavesmma	Welcome to the UFC hobby!.... Been mma cards since 1995 and the 1st lic product was in 2009 (Topps round 1). Panini just got the lic in 2021... and were a disappointment with over produced, over hyped and over priced cards (still some nice rookies).... Topps had the lic previously and are getting back this year (but they are now owned by fanatics). This website will help in your search for true rookies etc - https://www.mmarookies.com/ Some IGs to check out for old cards.... ufccardfather and mine - Huskytabby. The FB groups are very active... but lots of scammers these days. Do your research and have patience is good advice as well

01-31-2024, 08:13 AM	#6
NewbiefromUK Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 5	Thank you. That link is really helpful.

02-07-2024, 10:53 AM	#11
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,204 hanelcocards	The 'custom' cards that have flooded the UFC market are deliberately made to look as close to classic Topps and Panini cards as possible. They are 'Fakes' in every sense of the word. Some will argue they are 'cool' but they are there just to take advantage of new buyers like yourself.