Fake Panini Kobe Bryant Autos

[kingofsnake]

Apologies if this topic has already been discussed, but I did a search and did not see any other threads on this. In recent weeks I have seen a bunch of Panini Kobe Bryant autographs from China that I believe to be fake. The common characteristics are:

1. They are all on Panini insert cards that were not marketed being autographed.
2. They are not serial-numbered or hand-numbered.
3. They do not have the Kobe "24" sticker on the back.
4. They DO however have a line on the back that says "The autograph is guaranteed by Panini America, Inc."
5. They come in slabs with a Panini sticker.
6. They all have generic AI descriptions.

There are several different selling accounts all based in China, all with decent but limited feedback, but oftentimes no other sports cards for sale.

Here are a few examples:

piaopiaocard

boxucard

naruncard

dechuangwangluo

yingpiao

I am aware that eBay is flooded with counterfeit items and that buyers should always do their due diligence. But it was surprising to me that so many people were paying lots of money for these fakes.

Please be careful.

[auburn35]

Nice catch. Looks like more of the fake authentication stamping, discussed in these threads.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1426025
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1290903

[Archangel1775]

Someone just excitedly posted in a Facebook group that they bought a 2012 Marque Kobe. The auto isnt close and there is no autograph insert set with the base design and the guarantee on the back. The buyer removed his post but he did post an image of the back. That line was definitely added by some type of heat transfer or similar.

100% fake image back next to Legends Signature Insert back :



Base card back

[auburn35]

Yes, there's a mix of forgeries with and without the fake Panini guarantee language.
It's more than Kobe and Panini as well.

Here's a few more photos for future reference.






They even added a bogus serial number to this fake Curry



This Harden 40/49 has sold with two different fake autos. One with and one without the fake Panini guarantee.

[kingofsnake]

Those Curry fakes are really bad-looking. And the font on the serial-number looks ridiculous. Thanks for posting more examples.

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by kingofsnake

Those Curry fakes are really bad-looking. And the font on the serial-number looks ridiculous. Thanks for posting more examples.

No problem, there are a bunch of fakes on those accounts, so figured it was good to document a few of the examples. It also looks like the same fake serial numbering was attempted on this Zion. Middle/Left edge on the reverse, if it wasn't obvious.



Here's another example of the same card, being sold in different stages of alteration.

Fake auto is added.


Next listing has the fake autograph guarantee added, as well as the sealed "Panini" case.

[ninjabum87]

Do people just bid on #@#@#@#@ without knowing wtf it is?

[sethc1020]

Originally Posted by ninjabum87

Do people just bid on #@#@#@#@ without knowing wtf it is?

Yep, its on the internet so it must be real

[MANNAXMAN]

I'm guessing yingpiao used to go by yingpiaocrystal. I messaged yingpiaocrystal last month about an autographed 2019 Prizm NBA Finalists Kobe card that was supposedly signed at an even Kobe attended in China.
I asked him the date of the event, and he said it was in Sept. 2019. I told him the product wasn't released until Dec. 2019. LOL

[ninjacookies]

Poopnini doesn't seem overly concerned about the abuse of their guarantee verbiage and overall brand integrity.

It's a wonder why these people keep scribbling lines for $200+ dollars a day in 5 minutes of work.


Also; stupid is as stupid does@bidders. This is the equivalent of the FBI robocalls from Mumbai. If you get taken, then it's probably not your first rodeo...and certainly won't be your last.

[ninjacookies]

But the real fun is in a blind placebo PSA DNA sub.

I guarantee at least half of those still pass 'authentication'.

#whodoyouneglect?

[auburn35]

The fakes continue to get listed. Here's a new batch with Kobe, Curry, Jokic, Luka, Bird, Robinson.

ebay.com/usr/shiguocrystal2021

Fake autos, serial numbers, authentication text, stickers,....





With the help of 3124508 on COMC, it was also discovered that there's several counterfeit 2015 Panini Replay "buyback" autos in circulation. These mirror the existing fakes but also include a counterfeit, authentication embossing.

Originally Posted by 3124508 on COMC

China made a fake stamp.

Here's a few that made it past PSA.

[boxbuster7]

psa should really stop encases cards for auto grades that are clearly fake

authentic auto 10 is just insanely confusing since many people don't realize the authentic grade is for the card

[Archangel1775]

Does Panini even care? With them losing the licenses it almost feels like they have no incentive to fix the problem which basically amounts to sabotaging their own brand.

[thekiddfan]

Are those replays confirmed fakes?

[3124508 on COMC]

Originally Posted by thekiddfan

Are those replays confirmed fakes?

Yes…if you look closely the embossed stamp is not correct. Among other issues.

[hoopstaj]

I messaged the guy about that last psa kobe, he said he bought it from somewhere, read it’s a buyback. Told him I think it’s fake and he said it’s not lol.

Be careful out there people


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by hoopstaj

I messaged the guy about that last psa kobe, he said he bought it from somewhere, read it’s a buyback. Told him I think it’s fake and he said it’s not lol.

Be careful out there people


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure if they were the submitter, but the adjacent certification also appears to be counterfeit.

https://www.psacard.com/cert/85921005

[hoopstaj]

He said he bought it from from sappys sports cards in Dallas, didn’t submit himself so who knows who submitted


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[Archangel1775]

If this is par for the course, the Kobe Auto market is screwed.

[ninjacookies]

Manurenini era stuff is going to be forged/replicated to the moon once their license expires. At least with UD, these guys still have a bit of apprehension because they're still in business and a bit more protective of their brand.

All bets off in 2 years. That fake storefront Starbucks in Guangzhou where Kobe, Lebron, Wilt, Babe, Lululemon, and MJ all congregate to do free daily signings is going to be an absolute zoo.

上帝保佑.

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Manurenini era stuff is going to be forged/replicated to the moon once their license expires. At least with UD, these guys still have a bit of apprehension because they're still in business and a bit more protective of their brand.

All bets off in 2 years. That fake storefront Starbucks in Guangzhou where Kobe, Lebron, Wilt, Babe, Lululemon, and MJ all congregate to do free daily signings is going to be an absolute zoo.

上帝保佑.

Wouldn't give UD too much praise. Also, researching a few UD buybacks (don't appear on any checklist I've seen) that appear to have been submitted with a few of these Kobe's.

[auburn35]

Here's another batch of these fakes, among the completed listing from the card hobby site.
http://cardhobby.com/#/market?type=l...=kobe%20replay



Including a few more that psa missed.


Can't fully see the embossing on these two, but they both appear to be fakes.

[SteigerWRX]

Does anyone have close-ups of the embossing's to point out the difference between a real one and fake one? Just keep reading the embossing isnt right, but no explanation as to how/why.

[CheapCards]

Do you guys think this one is legit? I almost bought it on ebay but decided not to take the chance.