TL;DR
Spot fake COAs by checking for lab info, dates, methods, and formatting.
Full Post:
How to Spot Fake COAs (Certificates of Analysis) Fake COAs are rampant in the grey market. Here’s a quick guide to help you identify them: Red Flags: 1. No Lab Info or Third-Party Logo ◦ If it just says “COA” with no lab name or contact info, it's likely fake. ◦ Real COAs come from the testing lab, not the vendor. 2. No Date or Batch Number ◦ A legitimate COA should display the batch number tied to your product and the test date. ◦ No date? Probably a recycled or copy-pasted COA. 3. Only Shows “Purity: 99%” Without Method ◦ Real COAs include testing methods like HPLC, MS, or NMR — sometimes with graphs. ◦ If it just says “99.8% purity,” it’s marketing, not science. 4. Sketchy Formatting or Typos ◦ Labs don’t misspell “chromatography” or use Comic Sans. ◦ Watch for inconsistent fonts, blurry logos, and sloppy layouts. 5. Reused Across Products or Vendors ◦ Do a reverse image search on the COA or check Reddit; some vendors reuse the same document with a new name slapped on it. Bonus Tip: • Ask for the Raw Chromatogram. Scammers won’t have it. Legit vendors usually will.
Only for research and educational purposes. Not medical advice.