2001 Fleer Tradition #451 Albert Pujols

With a current book value of $70.00, the 2001 Fleer Traditions Albert Pujols may not seem like your typical candidate for a high-end counterfeit. Catching you off guard is what makes this fake dangerous.

At first glance the card appears normal. The front of the card is of a glossy stock while the back is a natural cardboard stock just like a real card. Upon closer inspection the "Frankencard" begins to show its true colors.

The fake is actually composed of two different "cards". The front is printed on a glossy stock and the back is printed on a natural cardboard stock. The two are then glued together forming the "Frankenfake". This marriage of the two halves causes the card to be thicker than normal. The particular fake we had in hand weighed in at an impressive 3.05 grams.

Looking at the print quality of the front and back, one will notice the tale-tell sign of a typical fake. All printing is made up of a print dot pattern. Things such as stats that would normally be printed using solid ink are made up of print dots on this fake. This causes the entire image to be slightly fuzzy or muddy as some would call it. Enough of a difference that the average collector will detect something is not quite right with the card.

When buying in person it pays to slow down and look a card over. If a card is in a scratched up holder, ask the dealer if you can remove the card for closer inspection of if he/she would like to remove it. A scratched or damaged holder can hide red flags.

Buying online can be tougher. It can be hard to see important details in a scan. Of course being scammed is even harder to prevent. An online auction can show an image of a real card but the buyer could be sent a fake copy. When buying online it is important to buy from reputable sellers. Check feedback and also message boards. Message boards can be a great place to find out about dealers.

- Andy Broome, BGS Grading Services