What is a Certificate of Authenticity?
A certificate of authenticity (COA) is a paper certificate authenticating a specific item such as a signed football shirt is made to demonstrate that the item is authentic.
The COA should include the qualifications and full contact information of the person or entity who created the certificate, as well as his or her complete and up-to-date contact information.
Any COA is worthless unless it includes the issuer's complete contact information. Creating or using a COA in the sale of an autograph or similar item is illegal under the Fraud Act 2006 (section 7). Any person who creates, adapts, supplies, or proposes to supply any product commits an offence.— (a)knowing that it is designed or adapted for use in the course of or in connection with fraud, or (b)intending it to be used to commit, or assist in the commission of, fraud. In other words, if the seller is offering fakes with a COA, then he/she is committing more than one offence, and the offence of issuing a COA alone is a possible 12-month prison sentence.