How to check a PSA slab before you sell it

Fakes are a growing problem. PSA says it stopped more than $200 million in fake and altered cards in 2025, and the number of fake Pokémon cards it flagged went up 125% from the year before (The Athletic). Fake submissions overall rose 45.3%, and PSA named “counterfeit slabs designed to mimic graded cases” as one of the tricks it sees (Sports Illustrated).

Most slabs are real. But if you bought yours second-hand, it is worth five minutes before you sell it, because the buyer will check it too.

1. Look up the cert number yourself

The cert number is printed on the label. Type psacard.com/cert into your browser and enter it. You can also scan the QR code on the back of the label (PSA) or use the PSA app (PSA). We always type the address ourselves rather than click a link someone else sent.

A cert that comes back “not found” is a serious problem. A cert that does come back is a good start, but it is not proof. PSA warns that forgers copy real cert numbers from public sources, and that a lookup “does not eliminate risk” (PSA).

2. Make sure the record matches your slab

This is the step that catches copied labels. Check that the year, set, card name, card number, any variety line (like 1st Edition) and the grade in PSA’s record all match your label exactly.

If the record has photos, compare them to the card in your hand. PSA uploads images to Cert Verification, and slabs graded at Express service or higher get high-resolution front and back scans (PSA). Look at the centering, the edges and any small print marks. If the card in the photo is a different copy from yours, something is wrong.

3. Look closely at the label

PSA’s current LightHouse label has security features on both sides (PSA):

• Front: a LightHouse logo that switches on and off as you tilt it, the red trim joining up with the LightHouse, and a special ink pattern that stops the label being washed and reprinted.
• Back: a PSA logo pattern that shows under UV light, the same LightHouse logo and ink pattern, and a QR code that opens Cert Verification.

Older slabs have older labels, so a slab without every one of these is not automatically fake. That is when the cert record and photos in step 2 matter most.

4. Check the case

PSA cases are sonically sealed and built to show any tampering (PSA, PSA). Look along the edges for pry marks, cracks, glue or gaps, and make sure the label sits straight. A case that looks like it has been opened is a reason to stop.

5. Look at the card itself

PSA’s own advice is to look for differences in print quality, fonts, foil patterns and card stock, and to compare against a copy you know is real (The Athletic). A real slab with the wrong card inside is still a fake.

If something does not add up

Do not sell it. Log into your PSA account and file a Quality Assurance Request in the Customer Request Center. PSA says it will send instructions to check the card free of charge, and will contact the authorities if it turns out to be a fake (PSA). PSA also says its guarantee pays buyers back, under certain conditions, if a card it graded turns out to be fake or altered (The Athletic).

How we handle it

We only buy authentic cards. We check every slab you send photos of against PSA’s record before we make an offer. If something does not match, we will tell you what we found and pass on that card.