Are hobbyists using CAT scan machines to gain an unfair advantage?

When I first got into the hobby many moons ago, I didn't even know what a CAT scan machine was.

When I was old enough to learn about them, I learned they are a medical imaging machines invented in 1967 to take a closer look at what was going on inside the human body. If you would have told me then that it would become a controversial hobby tool someday, I would’ve asked, “where did you park your UFO?”

But last year news broke that somehow collectors were utilizing the technology to see what cards were inside sealed high-end wax products and cases without having to open them. One hobby publication even called the trend the “newest scam in sports cards.”

Also See: Fraud, forgeries on the rise in thriving hobby 

Unscrupulously trying to gain an advantage with sealed or unopened wax is not a new concept. Some prior and still used methods include: weighing packs and boxes; “feeling” packs; opening, replacing and resealing packs; and figuring out collations and knowing what pack(s) in a box have the desired cards or inserts.

Such tricks have all been utilized as nefarious ways to potentially separate a card from what would become its rightful owner, but this new wrinkle really takes the cake.

Rumors allegedly have breakers, wax dealers and potentially others in the hobby using this technology to gain an upper hand by identifying potential big-money cards included within a pack, or also what is not contained within.

I don't think many collectors will disagree with me that this is a bad precedent for the hobby and shouldn't be occurring or allowed. Recently a Connecticut business even publicly advertised a hobby CAT scan service for $75 a pop.

Newman: Collector shows there are many ways ‘to hobby’ with super collection 

Can card manufacturers combat this? Short of putting lead sheets in their products, it would be difficult and most likely cost prohibitive.

I mentioned being surprised had I heard this years ago, but frankly this doesn't surprise me in today's day and age and in an industry that has had its share of fraud and forgery cases in recent years. We all know when it comes to money or financial gain, people do things that are ethically wrong.

So if you are a buyer of significant wax, what can you do to protect yourself?

I can think of only two answers. One, find a seller or breaker you can wholeheartedly trust would never do that. Or, another thing you might want to do is purchase wax packs immediately upon release, leaving little time for it to occur.

I hate to ask … but what's next?

— John Newman is a collector, dealer and the host of the Sports Card Nation podcast. Catch his Hobby Quick Hits on Monday and his guest interviews on Friday on your favorite podcast plat­form. You can reach him at sportscard­nationpc@gmail.com or on Twitter at @sportscardnati1