# How do I know what I'm buying is legit and not a fake?

Mintable provides tools and best practices to help you protect yourself when collecting or investing in NFTs.

### ✅ What Makes an NFT Authentic?

Every item on Mintable belongs to a **store smart contract** on the Ethereum blockchain. Each store has:

* A **unique contract address**
* A collection of items that all share that address
* Individual items with their own **unique token IDs**

This makes it **impossible to forge a true match** between a fake NFT and a verified smart contract.

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### 🔍 How to Verify an NFT's Authenticity

Here’s how to check that what you’re buying is legit:

#### 1. **Check the Store Address**

* Click on the **store or collection name** on the item page
* Confirm that the **smart contract address** is the official one (e.g., from a project's website or social links)

#### 2. **Look for the Blue Checkmark ✅**

* Collections with a **blue tick** have been **verified by Mintable**
* This means the smart contract and collection have passed authenticity checks

> 🛑 No blue tick? That doesn’t always mean it’s fake — but you should **do extra due diligence**.

<figure><img src="https://2077242324-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FroeNMrosF7gYgIymjLYO%2Fuploads%2F0xv7Xs41EMLAGoJseWgz%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4a9460f0-dc10-453e-8d42-dc5062913593" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 3. **Verify on the Blockchain**

* Use a block explorer like [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io)
* Search the store’s smart contract address
* Confirm the token ID exists under that contract and matches the listing

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### 🛡️ Tips to Stay Safe

* Only trust **official links** from project websites or social accounts
* Be cautious of listings with **suspiciously low prices** or vague seller info
* Don’t assume popularity = authenticity — always verify the contract
* For high-value purchases, take the extra minute to validate everything

<figure><img src="https://docs.mintable.app/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F4070683621-files.gitbook.io%2F%7E%2Ffiles%2Fv0%2Fb%2Fgitbook-legacy-files%2Fo%2Fassets%252F-MBMfw1KGuBM0Z3DpPUt%252F-Mk6spS1XoIFxRSD_5pF%252F-Mk6sv_F0dMU-mUktdwe%252Fscams-everywhere-1-696x473.jpg%3Falt%3Dmedia%26token%3Da0a31bf4-15e7-44f2-a038-f7c7bc66a34c&#x26;width=768&#x26;dpr=4&#x26;quality=100&#x26;sign=d2d31bb3&#x26;sv=1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

🔗 Want More Tips?

Read our full guide on spotting scams: 📖 [NFT Scams and How to Avoid Them](https://editorial.mintable.app/2021/09/20/nft-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them/)