Latest news with #ProfessionalSportsAuthenticator
Daily Mirror
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I bought a Pokémon card worth £80 online but what turned up instead floored me'
A man who bought a rare Pokémon card worth up to £80 from a seller online thought he'd found a great addition to his collection - but what actually turned up left him gobsmacked Pokémon cards have become hugely popular in recent years, with adults and children alike starting collections and hunting for rare finds that can sometimes be worth thousands of pounds. But the rise in popularity does have some downsides, as there are now scalpers buying sealed packs and reselling them for way over retail price, while some scammers have popped up claiming to be selling rare cards that end up either being fake or badly damaged. One man thought he had been scammed when he bought a rare Pokémon card worth up to £80, as the seller messaged him shortly after to declare they'd made a "mistake" when posting it. However, what actually happened was far more bizarre than just an unfortunate scam. The man, named Johnny, shared a video on TikTok in which he explained he had been trying to find the Volcanion EX full art card from the Journey Together series when he came across someone selling it on eBay. He didn't indicate how much the listing was, but ungraded versions of the card are worth around $30 (£22), while graded PSA 10 - the highest card grade offered by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) - cards can be worth around $105 (£79). Johnny bought the card and was later contacted by the seller, who confirmed they had posted it. But just moments later, they messaged him again to say they had made a "mistake", making Johnny worry he'd been scammed. But it turned out the seller had genuinely made an error and posted him the wrong item - their father's ashes. They told him: "SOS! I messed up the order and sent my dad's ashes by mistake!" The seller clarified that the ashes were packaged up, ready to be shipped to their mother's house for the funeral, and when they had gone to post Johnny's Pokémon card, they had accidentally picked up the wrong box. Johnny graciously agreed to look after the ashes until the seller could come to his house to collect them, and the seller responded: "Brilliant! He was a massive Pokémon fan, so I know he'd love hanging with you for a bit." And as bizarre as the interaction was, Johnny then showed off the Pokémon card he was supposed to receive, suggesting the seller did actually come to his house and swap the ashes for the card. He added: "The backstory this Pokémon card in my collection has now is insane!" Commenters on the post were baffled as to how the seller had made the mistake in the first place, especially as one Pokémon card could be sent in an envelope or similarly flat package, while ashes would most likely be shipped in a box. Someone wrote: "Were the ashes flat-packed? How did they muddle them up?" Another asked: "How does one accidentally send ashes?" Johnny clarified in response: "She copied and pasted my address onto her next parcel as she wasn't thinking right [while] planning the funeral, etc. She got them back in the end." But others were simply happy the man hadn't been scammed, as one person said: "My first thought was scam, but man, this is way more interesting."
Boston Globe
11-06-2025
- Boston Globe
Charges against R.I. pair withdrawn in alleged Jason Kelce autograph fraud scheme
'Throughout this ordeal, Mr. Parenti stood by his original statement that he did not forge any memorabilia nor did he direct anyone to forge memorabilia,' reads a statement sent to the Globe by Bill Fischer, a spokesperson for Diamond Legends, the sports memorabilia store owned by Parenti. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'When Mr. Parenti became aware that there may be issues with the authenticity of the memorabilia in question, he pulled it from the marketplace. Mr. Parenti deeply regrets entering into a business arrangement with Overtime Promotions based in Philadelphia.' Advertisement Branco, Parenti, and Robert Capone of Philadelphia were charged in January with forgery, theft, and deceptive business practices, among other charges. Officials said at the time that in June 2024, law enforcement learned of approximately 1,138 items with fraudulent Kelce signatures – including signed jerseys, helmets, mini-helmets, hats, photos, footballs, and other items – when alerted by TCH Humphreys LLC, a sports memorabilia company in Royersford, Penn. Advertisement The items were offered for sale by Overtime Promotions, owned by Capone, and Diamond Legends, and were supposedly 'verified' by Branco, an employee of Beckett Authentication Services, officials said. Prosecutors said earlier this year TCH Humphreys had contracted with Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center, to host an official memorabilia signing at a private event on June 11 and 12, 2024, at the Valley Forge Casino Hotel, and legitimate autographs were verified by Professional Sports Authenticator. Branco and Parenti attended the signing event, and Branco 'secured a photo with Kelce in order to validate her in-the-presence authentication of the forged memorabilia that was never actually signed by Kelce,' prosecutors said. Officials claimed an investigation revealed Capone, Parenti, and Branco allegedly used Becket Authentication Services to create the counterfeit autographs and offer them for sale. According to Delano, authorities in Pennsylvania continue to investigate cases even after charges are filed. In this instance, investigators eventually obtained cell phone evidence with 'all the communications' between Branco, Parenti, and Capone and it showed Branco and Parenti were unaware the signatures were not authentic. 'This outcome affirms our continued commitment to the integrity and values we've always upheld since our company's beginning,' Parenti wrote in an email to customers that was partially shared by Fischer. 'To say the least, this has been a tough time for myself, my family and our business,' Parenti added. 'Diamond Legends will move forward with a stringent and comprehensive responsibility of holding our products to the highest standard of authenticity. We will also be more vigilant on who we partner with - and do business with going forward – as that has been the lesson of this unfortunate circumstance.' Advertisement According to Delano, the charges against Capone remain. Material from a previous Globe story was used in this report. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Hypebeast
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hypebeast
Pharrell Williams 主理拍賣行 JOOPITER 呈獻極罕 1986-87 Michael Jordan 親簽新秀卡
由Pharrell Williams領軍的數碼拍賣行JOOPITER，宣佈將舉辦其首場運動收藏品拍賣會，而焦點拍品則是一張極其罕見的 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan 親筆簽名新秀卡。此舉標誌著 JOOPITER 正式進軍運動收藏領域。 這張珍貴的卡片由Michael Jordan本人於 2024 年在一次專屬簽名會中簽署，並由權威認證機構 Professional Sports Authenticator（PSA）全程見證。其珍罕之處在於，它是全球僅有三張同時獲得 PSA Mint 9 卡片等級，以及 PSA/DNA 完美 Gem Mint 10 簽名等級的卡片之一，而同等級的卡片此前從未在市場上公開發售。卡上呈現了這位籃球之神身穿經典 #23 芝加哥公牛隊球衣的耀眼新秀賽季英姿。 JOOPITER 全球銷售主管 Caitlin Donovan 表示，此卡來源非凡，是市場上最頂級的籃球收藏卡之一。這件殿堂級的收藏品將於 2025 年 6 月 16 日至 6 月 25 日，在JOOPITER 官方網站開放全球競標，各位收藏家切勿錯過。 >Chanel 宣佈成立獨立品牌「Nevold」專注時裝廢料再生與環保 >visvim 最新「VISVIM MOTORS CLUB」別注系列第三彈即將登陸 The Repulse Bay Village >JOOPITER 攜手 sacai 與韓國人氣男團 SEVENTEEN 聯手展開拍賣會
Hypebeast
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Hypebeast
JOOPITER Unveils Rare 1986-87 Michael Jordan Signed Rookie Card
Summary Pharrell Williams'JOOPITERis set to host its premier sports collectibles sale, featuring an exceptionally rare and highly sought-after 1986-87 Fleer #57Michael JordanRookie Card. This particular card was signed by Jordan himself in 2024 at an exclusive signing witnessed and authenticated by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). It's one of only three in existence with a PSA Mint 9 card grade and a perfect Gem Mint 10 signature grade by PSA/DNA. This remarkable collectible showcases the sports legend in his iconic #23Chicago Bullsjersey, commemorating his breakout rookie season. The 1986-87 Fleer set itself marked a significant evolution in the sports card collecting hobby, and no card of this grade has been sold publicly in the past. 'As JOOPITER boldly enters the world of sports collectibles, we are thrilled to debut with a true masterpiece – a PSA Mint 9/10 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie Card. Signed by Jordan, with extraordinary provenance, this card is one of the finest collectible basketball card examples to ever come to market,' Caitlin Donovan, Global Head of Sale at JOOPITER, said in a statement. Check out the card above. The collectible will be open for global bidding on theJOOPITER websitefrom June 16 to June 25, 2025.
New York Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton cards jump in value as collectors seek next NBA megastar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton have become focal points of the NBA trading card market as the young Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers stars have guided their teams to the NBA Finals. Outside of aging veterans like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the injured Victor Wembanyama, and the still massive shadow cast by Michael Jordan, the NBA card market lacks bonafide box office draws, resulting in WNBA cards selling for more than comparable NBA cards for the first time ever. Advertisement With the NBA Finals starting Thursday, this will be prime ground for SGA and Haliburton to prove they belong in the spotlight. The two stars, both making their first trip to the NBA Finals, have been two of the more heavily transacted players in the last 30 days in terms of total card sales, according to Market Movers, which tracks card sales across multiple marketplaces. The Pacers guard ranks seventh among all basketball players with more than 4,100 individual card sales. The Thunder guard and newly crowned league MVP ranks eighth with more than 3,400 card sales. SGA's cards have commanded a much higher price tag than Haliburton's lot, though. Through the past month, SGA ranks eighth in total dollars as his cards sold for nearly $667,000 all together. Haliburton sits 10th on this list with nearly $331,000 in sales. For perspective, Michael Jordan ranks No. 1 on this list with $5.6 million. Let's use the players' Panini Prizm Silver rookie cards with a gem mint 10 grade from PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) as the baseline to gauge their markets, as they are popular cards that are frequently transacted but are more scarce than the base versions. SGA's 2018 card — with the Los Angeles Clippers — stands as one of the most expensive Prizm Silver rookie cards yielding an average price of $1,200 within the last 30 days. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic carry Prizm Silver rookie cards, and that's thanks in most part to a small population count for rookie cards with those two players. The $1,200 price tag is nearly double where it was at the beginning of the year, when this card averaged sales of $675. One SGA rookie card sold for as much as $1,400 during the last 30 days. His current card price has jumped 300 percent in the past two years, only carrying an average price tag of $300 in May 2023. Advertisement By the Thunder eliminating Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals, the door feels wide open for SGA to take a firmer grasp at becoming one of the next big things in the basketball card hobby. Edwards' card market launched in last season's playoffs, specifically his 2020 Prizm Silver rookie in a PSA 10. In April 2024, Ant Man's card only sold on average for $597. His monster on-court run during the next month, during which searches for his name on eBay shot up 1,850 percent compared to the start of the season, launched this card into orbit with average sales on May 9 up to around $1,840. One week later, Edwards' cards drastically dipped in value to average sales of $1,120. The Silver rarely reached or topped that daily average ever since. Once this year's postseason commenced, we were right back where we started with Edwards. His 2020 Prizm Silver in a PSA 10 was even lower in mid-April this year than where it was before his sharp uptick, selling for $561 on April 15. His market shot back up in May, with the Timberwolves' run to the Western Conference finals, as average sales reached as high as $1,090 as of May 20. Now with Minnesota falling to Oklahoma City, Edwards' gem mint Prizm Silver card is already dropping again, averaging $870 as of Sunday. The card market for Haliburton, the league's most overrated player according to his peers in this season's anonymous player poll by The Athletic, flourished from an immediate boom shortly after the Pacers landed a spot in the NBA Finals. Haliburton's 2020 Panini Prizm Black Finite one-of-a-kind rookie card with a PSA 10 grade sold for nearly $120,000 last Saturday, which is about $35,000 more than his highest selling card of any kind. This is quite the turnaround after Haliburton's market sank to an all-time low early this season. Advertisement Once selling for as high as $700 in September 2021, his 2020 Panini Prizm Silver PSA 10 graded rookie card only commanded an average price of $161 in mid December. This occurred five months before The Athletic published the poll. Haliburton's rookie card — with the Sacramento Kings — rarely commanded a sale of more than $200 until May. The card is now selling for an average of around $413 as of Sunday, with a high sale of $450 in the past 30 days. Had the New York Knicks toppled the Pacers, the NBA trading card world's eyes would've been glued to Knicks guard Jalen Brunson instead. His card values during the past year have been on a very similar plane as Haliburton. Brunson's 2018 Prizm Silver rookie card — with the Dallas Mavericks — in a PSA 10 sold on average as high as $318 in mid-May. After the Eastern Conference finals loss, the card now only averages $247 as of Sunday. Last season's NBA Finals felt the same way for a potential card value boom for Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. But he didn't play up to superstar level even though the Celtics won the title — so much so that teammate Jaylen Brown won the series MVP. Unfortunately for Tatum and his collectors, the forward ruptured his Achilles tendon in the Eastern Conference finals this year and will likely miss much of next season. His 2017 Prizm Silver rookie card with a PSA 10 grade went from averaging $979 in early June 2024 down to $585 as of Sunday. So even if you're the top star of an NBA championship winning team, it's no promise the player's card value will not only vault but maintain a new heightened price. But if SGA or Haliburton play to an NBA Finals MVP level, maybe one of the two, or even both players, could propel themselves into a higher trading card price bracket. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
