Counterfeit cards still remain a problem in the collecting community. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over two dozen fake Victor Wembanyama rookie cards at the Rochester Port of Entry in New York as part of a bigger bust of counterfeit items.
A CBP official tells HobbyListings that 29 fake Wemby cards were detained. The cards were made to look similar to the NBA sensation’s 2023-24 Panini Prizm rookie cards, which can sell between $60-$80 ungraded.
Other items seized by CBP officers at the Rochester Port of Entry include multiple “designer” clothing, shoes, handbags, watches and AirPods. The items were valued over $408,000.
“CBP plays a vital role in the protection of consumers and businesses from fraudulent products,” says Rochester Port Director Ronald Menz in a statement. “Our officers work tirelessly to intercept these fake items that have economic impacts, legal implications and a potential risk to the health and safety of the American consumer.”
The Frenchman, who the San Antonio Spurs selected No. 1 overall in 2023, is a hot commodity in the hobby. His 2023-24 Panini Prizm Black Shimmer First Off The Line 1/1 recently sold $516,000, making it the phenom’s most expensive card to date. A 1/1 Wembanyama NBA Top Shot non-fungible token sold for $145,000. On the memorabilia side, Wembanyama’s Spurs jersey he wore in his NBA debut game against the Dallas Mavericks sold for $762,000 in a Sotheby’s auction last year, setting the record for most expensive NBA debut jersey.