Don't Get Duped By Phony Celeb Autographs

Celebrity autographs are not only fun to collect but they can also serve as great investments to add to any portfolio. If you would rather purchase them somewhere, take note of these following tips in order to avoid getting fooled by a second-rate fake.

There are a lot of ambiguities when it comes to spotting fake autographs. After all, celebrities and other famous people regularly change their signatures. There are easy ways to spot a fake, such as verifying the spelling. Oftentimes, an imposter wouldn't bother to double-check the spelling of the celebrity being faked, so these errors are easy to catch. Try to verify how old the material is. For example, if the celebrity is relatively old and they have laser printed photos floating around the web, with their so-called signature, you know these are fake as laser photos did not exist when they were alive.

It is a good idea to also remember that there are celebrity autographs often referred to as "secretarials", meaning that they are autographs signed by their assistants. Don't make the mistake of paying big money for these autographs - they would usually come in bulk, printed on 8x10 photos. Spotting these frauds is important since you do not want to waste not only your time, but your money in what turns out to be a worthless investment.

If you are looking to make a profit from your celebrity autograph collection, consider how the celebrity lived their life. For example, James Dean not only died at a young age, but he is known to have led a controversial lifestyle. Consider the age that a celebrity passed away - those who died young usually have more valuable autographs. Other examples of these celebrities would be Bruce Lee, or Marilyn Monroe. These are the types of autographs that could help you earn big cash.

More up to date celebrities can also turn a quick profit if the celebrity has been in or continues to be headline makers. Think along the lines of Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie. The big names in the sporting world aren't an exception to this rule. This rule certainly applies to athletes like David Beckham, or Lebron James, who is one of the top players in the NBA, but also a very controversial one, due to his "Decision" to sign with the Miami Heat.

Always guard against the fraud potential of the next celebrity autograph you purchase. Use common sense methods to spot the frauds and you can begin building a great portfolio.