How to Spot Fake Autographs: A Former Forger Speaks Out, Plus the Biggest Chases in 2025’s Non-Sport Releases
Description
In this episode of Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray open with breaking news that’s shaking the hobby: reports of hundreds of millions of dollars in forged autographs and fake certificates of authenticity. With autograph collectors now facing serious risks, the team brings on a uniquely qualified guest—Cliff Panezich, a former forger who once ran a multi-million dollar counterfeit autograph operation.
Cliff pulls back the curtain on the forgery world, sharing:
Tips for spotting fake signatures
Which marketplaces and items are most vulnerable
And how collectors can protect themselves from getting burned
Before that explosive interview, Jesse shares how he pulled the most expensive card of his life during a recent break, and explains how non-sport card breaks work for collectors who haven’t tried them yet.
Later in the show, Jesse and Ray break down the biggest chase cards from recent non-sport releases like:
Topps Chrome Marvel
Star Wars Masterwork
Fleer Brilliants Superman and more
The episode wraps with a look at how Labubu’s explosive growth is shaking up the collectible world—its parent company Pop Mart is now reportedly larger than Mattel and Hasbro combined—and an update on an upcoming giveaway from Courtyard.io.
United States
