How to verify a PSA graded card before you buy it
On this page
Enter the label number into PSA's official Cert Verification and compare the result with the actual card. Check game, set, subject, card number, variant and grade. PSA explicitly warns that a valid database result does not remove risk: counterfeiters can reuse a genuine certification number.
Check more than the number
- Request current, sharp photos of the front, back, label and holder edges. Do not rely only on stock images.
- Type the number yourself into PSA's official site or app. Do not rely solely on a seller-provided link or QR destination.
- Compare every database field with the label and card. Matching a name alone is insufficient if the set or collector number differs.
- Where PSA provides scans, compare centering, visible marks and card details. Missing scans do not automatically mean fraud; availability can depend on service and submission date.
- Look for damage, opening marks or a disturbed label on the holder. For an expensive purchase, consider in-person inspection or a seller and payment route with buyer protection.
What the lookup can and cannot prove
The lookup shows that PSA has a record associated with that number. It cannot remotely establish that the offered object is the item PSA examined. Scans, when present, add a useful comparison but do not replace physical inspection. If the details conflict, pause the purchase and request a verifiable explanation.
A grade of 10 does not mean the holder cannot be damaged. Check the slab condition and agree whether external scratches or cracks are acceptable. For value comparisons, use completed sales of the same printing and grade, not an ungraded copy or a different language.
If you have already bought a suspicious item
Keep the listing, receipt, messages and photographs of the received item. Contact the seller or marketplace within its applicable deadlines. PSA describes a request process for suspected counterfeit items; read its current instructions before shipping anything. Do not open the holder yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is scanning the QR code on a PSA label enough?
No. Visit the official site yourself and compare the record and available images. PSA warns that genuine numbers may be reused on counterfeit items.
What if the cert number does not appear?
First check that you typed it correctly and contact PSA. Pause the purchase until the mismatch is resolved rather than assuming an immediate explanation.
A mismatch that justifies pausing
The number returns the right game and name, but language or variant differs from the photographed label. Record the mismatching field and request a verifiable explanation. A search result alone is not a reason to complete payment.
Even matching fields do not remotely authenticate the offered object. Compare available scans and seek inspection appropriate to its value. Save the official lookup URL, date and object photos; the number alone does not record the whole check.