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The cgc Accused of Possibly Grading Fake Pokemon Cards.21520

I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
Millions of Dollars of Prototype Pokemon Cards May Be Forgeries, Retired Creatures Employee Involved

The authenticity of the Pokemon TCG’s famous “prototype cards” are now being called into question.

Last year, hundreds of prototype Pokemon cards began to sell in collecting circles from the personal collection of Takumi Akabane, one of the original creators of the Pokemon TCG. He worked at Creatures until 2008. He recently attended events to sign some of the cards. Grading company CGC worked closely with Akabane to verify the cards’ authenticity.

The prototype cards represent the earliest days of the TCG, produced in 1996 before Base Set released in Japan. They show the progression of Pokemon cards from their “proof of concept” stage where they used their Red & Green sprites to their beta designs that used their final artwork from Mitsuhiro Arita and Ken Sugimori.

Last night, however, the collecting community was hit by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake.

One of the buyers of the cards, PFM, used an obscure forensic technique to reveal many of the cards were actually printed in the summer of 2024. This includes cards that CGC authenticated as coming directly from Akabane’s collection.

Most printers imbue hidden watermarks on their pages that contain information like the printer’s serial number and the date its pages were printed. This is so governments and law enforcement can track the origins of documents.

For example, the prototype Nidoqueen has an imperceptible dot code matrix that shows it was printed on June 29th, 2024. Many other collectors have also posted scans of their cards, discovering that theirs too were printed in 2024.

In a statement to PokeBeach, PFM said, “It was really disheartening to find this out. More than the financial aspect, I thought it was cool to own a piece of history and it’s unfortunate it turned out this way.”

It’s currently unclear if some or all of the cards are fake. Since last year, fans have already distinguished different print runs of the cards. It’s unknown if there is a real, original print run.

It’s also unclear if Takumi Akabane knew any of the cards were printed in 2024. It seems unlikely a former Pokemon employee would be involved in any purposeful wrongdoing, especially when Pokemon takes their IP very seriously.

Several millions dollars of the cards have sold since last year. For example, a prototype Pikachu recently sold for $20,000 at Goldin Auction House. It is one of hundreds of cards.

Collectors are currently contacting auction houses to remove active listings of the cards until the full story is uncovered.

CGC Cards, who authenticated the cards, has not made a public statement yet.

However, Alt auction house published the following: “We’re aware of recent claims regarding CGC graded Pokemon Prototype and Playtest cards that have been sold across various platforms. CGC has assured us they are taking these allegations seriously and are conducting a thorough review. We’re staying in close communication with CGC and will share updates as they become available.”

Update (Tuesday, 7 AM): The first Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle cards that sold on the secondary market have been identified with 1996 watermarks. These cards have “higher quality” backs compared to other prototype cards; fans already noticed this last year. So far, all other identified cards have 2024 watermarks with “low quality” backs.

Update #2 (Tuesday, 7:30 AM): CGC now says this in response to queries about the cards: “Thank you for reaching out to us. We are aware of recent statements being made online regarding CGC-graded Prototype and Playtest Pokémon cards. CGC takes these claims very seriously, and we are conducting a full investigation. More information is forthcoming.”

Post 1 IP   flag post
I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this. GAC private msg quote post Address this user
Is it now official that CGC is worse than PGX? Garbage company.
Post 2 IP   flag post
Collector Rafel private msg quote post Address this user
Just one more reason that I will never trust or use CGC.
Post 3 IP   flag post
past performance is no guarantee of future actions. KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
Sooooo....apparently an easily checked code...as long as you know to look for it is the undoing??

Like....shouldn't you know to look for that type of thing...

But that's just cards....they are on top of their comic division yes??
Post 4 IP   flag post
Forum Crier OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user
So interesting! I had to get this out of the trash. I wonder if any of these are related to the article. Funny thing, I could be missing them but I didn’t see any of these on the ha.com website???




Post 5 IP   flag post
Collector poka private msg quote post Address this user
@OGJackster the first card seems to be ok. Cannot read the card certification # for the rest. However, you can find a full list of the suspected fake cards here: https://www.cgccards.com/news/article/13730/
Post 6 IP   flag post
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
So, the purchasers of the fake cards are supposed to take the word of the cgc as to whether or not their cards are fake and rely on them to provide an all inclusive list?

I wouldn't think so.

Shouldn't another card grading company be verifying the authenticity, or not, the cards in question?
Post 7 IP   flag post
Collector poka private msg quote post Address this user
@DrWatson you could but then you forfeit CGC’s “guarantee” - anyway - seems to be straightforward to determine whether fake or not - and they probably have a good idea.of who the submitters are
Post 8 IP   flag post
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
Guarantee of what exactly? Folks have already shelled out big bucks for fakes.
Post 9 IP   flag post
Collector poka private msg quote post Address this user
@DrWatson you may wish to familiarize yourself with the CGC guarantee. to be paid by CGC’s insurance company - which will then increase the insurance premium CGC will have to pay going forward - which again means that CGC will increase their prices.

https://www.cgccomics.com/grading/cgc-guarantee/
Post 10 IP   flag post
I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this. GAC private msg quote post Address this user
CGC is virtually a scam now.

One of the core services offered by TPG companies is authentication....it seems they can not even do that either.

It is a major mystery how CGC remains in business.
Post 11 IP   flag post
I haven't aired it out. It's part of the provenance. Galen130 private msg quote post Address this user

Post 12 IP   flag post
I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).
Splotches is gettin old!
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
Matt Nelson is doing a standout job.
I sincerely wish I could be as incompetent in a job without incident.

When the F does this guy finally step down and start selling graded donut holes?
Post 13 IP   flag post
Captain Accident the420bandito private msg quote post Address this user
Sounds like it will come out that these are "artist proofs" or some other bs. The digital files were the original but the print outs were a few months ago.
Post 14 IP   flag post
Collector consumetheliving private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by GAC
CGC is virtually a scam now.

One of the core services offered by TPG companies is authentication....it seems they can not even do that either.

It is a major mystery how CGC remains in business.


Unfortunately, all pricing within the comic book market is linked/defined by books in CGC cases. Until we, as the buying community, buy the book, not the case, CGC will continue to operate as they have without repercussion.

My messily 40 or so subs a year are going to CBCS for the foreseeable future. I'm sure CGC wont miss me much
Post 15 IP   flag post
Not trying to be an ass since February 12, 2020. HulkSmash private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffsaid111
Matt Nelson is doing a standout job.
I sincerely wish I could be as incompetent in a job without incident.

When the F does this guy finally step down and start selling graded donut holes?
if they are fresh the process smears the glaze. Too old and the glaze is cloudy to crusty. It’s a tricky business; I doubt he could handle it.
Post 16 IP   flag post
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
They'd be fake doughnut holes or, as he'd call them, faux holes. Give them a little spin. You know, for the mass.
Post 17 IP   flag post
I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).
Splotches is gettin old!
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by HulkSmash
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffsaid111
Matt Nelson is doing a standout job.
I sincerely wish I could be as incompetent in a job without incident.

When the F does this guy finally step down and start selling graded donut holes?
if they are fresh the process smears the glaze. Too old and the glaze is cloudy to crusty. It’s a tricky business; I doubt he could handle it.


To quote a common excuse for obvious eff ups "It's all subjective" 🤣🤣🤣
Post 18 IP   flag post
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
Their cards may be fake and their banana slabs are permanently damaging your books, but... Hey, they've got new custom labels!


Post 19 IP   flag post
I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).
Splotches is gettin old!
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
Time to find that Leslie Nielsen GIF "nothing to see here"
Post 20 IP   flag post
Collector Helric1 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffsaid111
Matt Nelson is doing a standout job.
I sincerely wish I could be as incompetent in a job without incident.

When the F does this guy finally step down and start selling graded donut holes?

Funny to see this in my inbox this morning after reading about this. 🙄


Post 21 IP   flag post
Not trying to be an ass since February 12, 2020. HulkSmash private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffsaid111
Time to find that Leslie Nielsen GIF "nothing to see here"

Post 22 IP   flag post
I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).
Splotches is gettin old!
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
@Helric1 oh he's influential for sure.
His leadership has helped influence the significant decline of a quasi-monopoly by averaging a severe mistake every 4 months. Pretty damn impressive and influential.
Imagine, just for a moment, if this CGC mickey mouse club manufactured something of importance and/or critical to people. I shudder to think
Post 23 IP   flag post
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helric1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffsaid111
Matt Nelson is doing a standout job.
I sincerely wish I could be as incompetent in a job without incident.

When the F does this guy finally step down and start selling graded donut holes?

Funny to see this in my inbox this morning after reading about this. 🙄



Well, that's a crock of shit if I've ever seen one.
Post 24 IP   flag post
Not trying to be an ass since February 12, 2020. HulkSmash private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrWatson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helric1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffsaid111
Matt Nelson is doing a standout job.
I sincerely wish I could be as incompetent in a job without incident.

When the F does this guy finally step down and start selling graded donut holes?

Funny to see this in my inbox this morning after reading about this. 🙄



Well, that's a crock of shit if I've ever seen one.
maybe Chiquita will take him if he loses his position at CGC.
Post 25 IP   flag post
" . " Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user
Lots of turnover at the true decision maker levels. Well, at least the ones controlling the purse strings…

CGC falls under CCG, which in turn is owned by Blackstone. The guy who ran the section of Blackstone making those types of (small) acquisitions recently left. Gone… likely one of the key proponents of the deal, and depending on how the deal looks in hindsight, the one likely “owning” it (aside from direct financial POV).

Beckett, well, as I can see the CEO came and went with only about a year at its helm. We also saw the recent restructuring announcement… though I spent little (zero) time digging into details. What looks apparent, surface level, is both companies may be a bit rudderless - or at least the mechanics moving the rudder are gummed up. Again, at the highest level and just my outside-in view. Speculative.

What is less speculative is that both are not doing so great financially. For all the fanaticism on both sides, it is better for collectors to have a few healthy rather than a couple sick companies. I have very little at stake in this but it would be nice to see professionalism prevail. Reflects better on the hobby.
Post 26 IP   flag post
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