Does a valid PSA, CGC, or BGS cert number mean the slab is genuine?

No. A cert number confirms that grade exists in the company's database, but scammers can copy a real cert number onto a counterfeit slab. You must also check that the card name, set, and grade in the official online record match the physical slab in front of you, and inspect the case for signs of tampering.

Where do I verify a graded card's certification number?

Use the grading company's own free lookup tool: PSA at psacard.com/cert, CGC through its verification portal at cgccards.com, and BGS or Beckett at beckett.com/grading/card-lookup. Type the address into your browser yourself rather than clicking a link the seller sends you, and no account is needed.

What is a proof-of-life video and why should I ask for one?

It's a short video of the seller holding the actual slab, showing front and back with the cert number readable, ideally next to a paper showing today's date and your username. It proves the card exists right now and is in the seller's hands, not a saved photo, and lets you check the seams and label for tampering before you pay.

How can I tell if a graded slab has been opened and the card swapped?

Look for a case seam that has been melted, glued, or re-pressed, any gap, glue residue or cloudiness around the edges, blurry or off-colour label printing, and a card that shifts or rattles inside. Genuine slabs are cleanly sealed and hold the card firmly in place.

What should I do if I think I've been scammed buying a graded card in Singapore?

Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799, report the listing within the marketplace app, and file a police report at a Neighbourhood Police Centre or via the Singapore Police Force e-services. Act fast so banks have the best chance of freezing the funds. In Malaysia, call the National Scam Response Centre at 997.

Graded cards · 6 min read

Buying graded Pokémon cards (PSA, CGC, BGS) safely

Spending more on a slabbed card? Here's how to verify a PSA, CGC, or BGS slab is genuine, untampered, and holds the card the label promises — calmly, in a few minutes.

A graded card in a sealed plastic case feels safe. The grade is printed right there, the holder looks official, and the photos look sharp. But a slab is just plastic and a label, and both can be faked or tampered with. The good news: graded cards are actually some of the *easiest* cards to verify, because every genuine slab has a certification number that links to a public record you can check in under a minute. This guide walks you through exactly how to do that, calmly and step by step.

What the three big grading companies are

You'll mostly see three names on slabs in Singapore and Malaysia. Knowing them in one line each helps you spot a label that doesn't add up:

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) — the most common grading company worldwide; red label, grades on a 1 to 10 scale.
CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) — known for trading cards and comics; uses a distinctive green label.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) — uses a label with up to four sub-grades (centering, corners, edges, surface), often a silver, gold, or black label.

You don't need to be an expert in any of them. You just need to confirm two things: that the slab is genuine, and that the card inside is the one the label describes.

Step 1: Look up the cert number on the official site

Every genuine slab has a unique certification (cert) number printed on the label. Type that number into the grading company's own free lookup tool. No account needed:

PSA — psacard.com/cert
CGC — the CGC verification portal at cgccards.com
BGS / Beckett — beckett.com/grading/card-lookup

Always type the website address yourself rather than clicking a link the seller sends you. A genuine cert pulls up the card's name, set, grade, and often official front and back photos. If the lookup returns nothing, treat the slab as fake until proven otherwise.

Step 2: Match the record to the card in front of you

This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that catches the cleverest fakes. A scammer can copy a real cert number onto a counterfeit slab, so the number existing isn't enough. Compare the official online record against the physical card:

Does the card name, set, and number match exactly?
Does the grade on the label match the grade in the database?
If the official site shows photos, do the centering, holo pattern, and any small print flaws line up with the card you're looking at?
Does the cert number printed on the label match the one shown online, character for character?

The cert number existing is not proof

A genuine cert number can be reused on a counterfeit slab holding a cheaper or fake card. ALWAYS do both steps: confirm the number exists, AND confirm the card, set, and grade in the official record match the slab in your hands. If anything doesn't line up, walk away. No deal is worth the loss.

Step 3: Inspect the slab for tampering

A genuine slab is sealed and shouldn't have been opened. Look closely, ideally on a video call or in person, for signs someone cracked it open to swap the card:

Case seam — genuine slabs are sealed cleanly. Look for a seam that's been melted, glued, or re-pressed, or any gap you could slide a fingernail into.
Adhesive or residue — glue marks, scratches, or cloudiness around the edges can mean a re-seal.
Label quality — official labels have crisp printing and consistent colour (CGC's green and PSA's red are specific shades). Blurry text, faded colour, or a label that looks slightly off is a warning sign.
The card sitting loose — inside a genuine slab the card is held firmly. A card that shifts or rattles may have been swapped.

Why buying graded online carries extra risk

In Singapore most graded cards change hands on Carousell, Shopee, Facebook groups, and Telegram chats. The risk isn't the platform itself, it's that you're trusting a photo and a promise. Scammers often post a real-looking listing, then push you to move to Telegram or WhatsApp and pay by PayNow or bank transfer, after which they vanish. The Singapore Police Force flagged at least 53 Pokémon trading-card e-commerce scam cases between January and around September 2025, with losses of at least S$163,000, and a separate case where one seller was tied to over 111 victims and more than S$80,000 lost.

Two patterns to watch for

First, sellers who rush you off-platform to Telegram or WhatsApp and ask for PayNow or bank transfer before you've verified anything. Second, the reverse — if you're SELLING, a 'buyer' who sends you a link or QR code to 'release payment' is phishing for your banking login. Real payments never need you to click a link to receive money.

What matters most: proof-of-life video and a verifiable seller

Cert lookups and slab inspection are your tools, but a clear video and a trustworthy seller are what make them work. Before you pay, ask for a short 'proof-of-life' video, the single most useful thing you can request:

The seller holding the actual slab, turning it over to show front and back, with the cert number readable on camera.
A piece of paper with today's date and your name or username held next to the slab, so you know the video is fresh and not a saved clip.
A slow pan over the seams and label so you can check for tampering.

Then weigh up the seller. Do they have a real history of reviews and completed sales? An account made last week with no feedback selling a high-value slab is a red flag. Established local card shops and long-standing community sellers are worth a small premium for the peace of mind.

The safe way to buy

For higher-value slabs, meet in person at a busy MRT station or mall and verify the cert on the spot before paying, or buy from an established shop or a seller with a real review history. Pay through the platform's protected checkout where possible. If you do meet up, you get to do all three checks — lookup, match, and inspect — before any money moves. That's as safe as it gets.

If something goes wrong

If you think you've been scammed, or you're just unsure whether a deal is one, you have free help. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799, report the listing inside the marketplace app, and make a police report at any Neighbourhood Police Centre or online via the Singapore Police Force e-services. In Malaysia, the equivalent scam hotline is the National Scam Response Centre at 997. Acting quickly gives the banks the best chance of freezing funds.

None of this should put you off collecting. Graded Pokémon cards are a genuine pleasure to own, and the verification steps here take only a few minutes. Check the cert, match the card, inspect the slab, ask for a dated video, and buy from someone you can verify. Do that, and you can spend with confidence.