Before you buy or sell, check first
The 5 most common Hong Kong card-trading scams: 1) fake / fake-graded cards, 2) meet-up switch, 3) fake "instant FPS transfer" screenshots, 4) pre-order deposit & disappear, 5) phishing links. Before you deal, check the seller's phone / FPS / account against community + official alerts; pay by a traceable method; inspect in person and exchange cash and card together.
No record ≠ safe. Always check the HK Police Scameter before paying.
CHECK · 查
Check before you deal
5 common card scams + how to defend
Fake / fake-graded card (fake PSA / slab)
Red flag: Too cheap, won't show a real video, cert number doesn't check out.
Defend: Verify the PSA / CGC cert number on the spot; check print dots, edges, holo under light.
Meet-up switch
Red flag: Rushes to take the card back, swaps with a look-alike sleeve.
Defend: Open and inspect in person, film it; check raw-card corners and surface before paying.
Fake "instant FPS transfer" screenshot
Red flag: Shows a "paid" screenshot while your account is empty, rushes you to hand over.
Defend: Only release once you SEE the money in your own bank app — never trust a screenshot.
Pre-order deposit & disappear
Red flag: Asks for a deposit on a new set / card, then vanishes.
Defend: Don't pay strangers upfront; check their history + community reports.
Phishing link
Red flag: "Verify payment / claim" link asking for login or card details.
Defend: Don't click unknown links; real payments never ask for your password / OTP.
How to trade safely (5 steps)
- 01
Check the identifier
Enter the phone / FPS / account / link and check the HK Police Scameter plus CardBase community + official alerts.
- 02
Check the real sold price
Does it match the market? A price that's too good is usually a red flag.
- 03
Compare same card + same grade
Only compare the same card at the same grade (PSA10 / raw).
- 04
Meet safe
Meet somewhere busy with CCTV, inspect authenticity + condition in person, check the slab cert number.
- 05
Pay safe
Only release once the money is really in your account; use traceable payment, never trust a "transfer screenshot".
How we keep it fair (transparency)
- · This page shares safety information from the Hong Kong card-collecting community and general anti-scam tips. It is not legal advice and not an official police service. Community reports are user-submitted and moderated but not independently verified — they are a prompt to do your own checks, not a finding that anyone has broken the law.
- · We list only the reported identifiers (phone / payment number / account / link), aggregated by identifier — not an accusation against any individual. Reporter identities and private evidence photos are never published.
- · If you believe information about you is wrong, you can request a right-of-reply or removal and we will review and respond.
- · Urgent or already scammed: call the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre on 18222, or the Police on 999.
FAQ
Before you deal, check the seller's phone / payment account against scam reports, check the real sold price, and insist on traceable payment or an in-person meet with inspection. Don't pay strangers upfront. No record doesn't mean safe — check the Police Scameter before paying.
Check print dots (real is fine, fake is coarse), edges and thickness (trimming / recolour looks off), and the holo depth under light. For graded cards verify the PSA / CGC cert number on the spot. If unsure, walk away.
Meet somewhere busy with CCTV (MTR / mall); open and inspect in person and film it; verify the slab cert number; exchange cash and card together; never pay first or leave to transfer. Search the other party beforehand.
No. Fake FPS / transfer screenshots are common — they show a "paid" screenshot while your account hasn't actually received anything. Only release once you SEE the money in your own bank app; ignore their screenshot or pressure.
Yes. Fake slabs, swapped cards and reused labels happen. Verify the cert number on the official site and confirm the card and photos match; if it doesn't check out, don't accept it.
Call the HK Anti-Deception Coordination Centre on 18222 or the Police on 999, and keep all chat / transfer / listing screenshots as evidence. You can also report by identifier on the CardBase safety hub to warn the community (reference only, not a verdict).