Blockchain technology and NFTs can prove authenticity and ownership of a creator’s work. Still, one big issue NFT buyers face is determining if the NFT they’re purchasing, especially when it comes to artwork, is authentic. While the token’s metadata is unique and authentic, it doesn’t prove that the token’s content is also authentic.
Luckily, there are several precautions you can take to check if your NFT art or collectible is the real deal. They’re not fool proof, but they will most likely help you identify whether the content is fraudulent or not.
- Check the Social Media Presence of the Creator
This is one of the best ways to gauge whether the NFT you’re buying is legit. Most creators are active on at least one social media profile, so make sure to check their accounts and see what kind of artwork they have been posting lately. You can also read the comments on posts to see what people are buying. Also check to see that the account selling the NFT is not a fake account of the real artist. Fraudulent accounts will often not have a following and not engage on social media much.
- Reverse-Check Images on Google
If you’re purchasing an NFT with an image, you can do a reverse search on Google to check if similar images exist and the date of when the file was first uploaded. To do this, upload the image into the search engine if you’re using a desktop. You can also check through your mobile by copying and pasting the image’s link into the search bar.
- Discern if the NFT is Priced Correctly
If you’re purchasing an NFT artwork that is supposed to be worth a lot more but is priced very low, you’re probably not getting a bargain but a plagiarized piece. Double-check to see that the price is fair, and get to know the artist’s works and general prices before purchasing.
- Check if the NFT is Sold on Other Blockchains
This can be difficult to figure out, as there are many different NFT marketplaces on various blockchains, and fraudulent accounts can use different hashtags so you don’t find the same NFT elsewhere. But, it is worth doing a quick check to see if the same NFT is sold across various platforms. Most legit artists stick to selling the same piece on the same blockchain, and if it is a 1/1 NFT artwork, they will sell it on one NFT platform only.
- Track the NFT Metadata and Transaction History
You can also look into the transaction history of the seller and owner from who you want to purchase an NFT. You can go to the NFT’s smart contract and click on “Details” to get information on the NFT’s token ID, the NFT’s metadata status (should either be ‘edible’ or ‘centralized’), the blockchain that the NFT is on, and contract address of the collection.
As each NFT has a unique ID, you can use the number to search the marketplace archives to check for any suspicious activity from this address and see past activities. The marketplace archives will give you an idea of how legit the owner and seller are (but remember, this will only show you the activity of the account associated with the NFT, and not necessarily any unique information on the owner).
There are several other methods to check the authenticity of an NFT, but they are more technical and complicated. They include using an NFT verification service, verifying NFT ownership through a digital certificate, and using the ID of the NFT to check if you can sell the NFT.
