AN INITIATIVE OF THE CERTIFIED TRADING CARD ASSOCIATION
HIN™
HOBBY INTELLIGENCE NETWORK
See the threats. Connect the dots. Protect the hobby.
HIN is CTCA's independent industry intelligence network designed to collect incident information, identify emerging threats and patterns, and help protect collectors, businesses and the trading card ecosystem from fraud, theft, counterfeiting, scams and other harmful activity.
Confidential reporting options available.
Threats Don't Stay Inside One Company.
Fraud, theft, counterfeit activity, scams and other threats often move across marketplaces, card shows, retailers, grading companies and online communities. Individual organizations may see only one part of the activity. HIN is designed to help the industry see the bigger picture.
Marketplace detects suspicious activity.
Retailer encounters similar behavior.
Card show reports another occurrence.
HIN Connects the Signals
Multiple isolated incidents can reveal one emerging pattern.
One Network. A Safer Hobby.
The Hobby Intelligence Network is being developed by CTCA as a neutral mechanism through which participants across the trading card industry can report incidents, contribute intelligence and identify emerging threats. HIN is designed to transform isolated reports into actionable industry intelligence.
REPORT
Collect structured information about suspicious activity and incidents.
ANALYZE
Identify recurring behaviors, methods and emerging patterns.
INFORM
Provide appropriate intelligence, alerts and educational information to participating organizations and the hobby.
PREVENT
Use shared knowledge to help reduce future incidents and strengthen industry safeguards.
What Can Be Reported to HIN?
If you encounter activity that may threaten collectors or the integrity of the trading card ecosystem, report it.
Theft
Stolen cards, inventory, shipments or collections.
Fraud
Transaction fraud, payment fraud, fraudulent sales or deceptive activity.
Counterfeit Cards & Products
Suspected counterfeit cards, altered products or fraudulent collectibles.
Scams
Online, marketplace, social media, event or transaction-related scams.
Suspicious Activity
Patterns or behavior that may warrant additional review.
Breaker / Livestream Incidents
Potential manipulation, undisclosed practices or other concerning activity.
Repack / Surprise Product Concerns
Potential transparency, sourcing, randomization or disclosure issues.
Shipping & Mail Theft
Lost or stolen card shipments and organized shipping-related activity.
Card Show Incidents
Theft, fraud or suspicious activity occurring at hobby events.
Other Hobby-Related Incidents
Other activity that may threaten collectors, businesses or trust within the trading card ecosystem.
Not sure whether something qualifies? Submit the information. CTCA can determine whether it falls within HIN's scope.
Report an Incident
Information from collectors and industry participants can help identify threats affecting the broader hobby.
REPORT AN INCIDENTWhat Happens After You Submit?
Report Received
Information enters HIN's structured reporting system.
Initial Review
The report is reviewed for relevance, completeness and potential significance.
Information Correlated
Where appropriate, information may be compared against other reports or available intelligence.
Patterns Identified
Multiple incidents may reveal emerging methods, threats or trends.
Appropriate Action
Depending on the circumstances, information may contribute to industry alerts, educational guidance, partner intelligence or referrals consistent with HIN policies.
Submitting information to HIN does not guarantee investigation, enforcement action, recovery of property or resolution of a dispute. HIN is not a law-enforcement agency.
From Incidents to Intelligence.
HIN is bigger than reporting. Submitted information becomes the foundation for industry-wide intelligence.
HIN Alerts
COMING SOONTimely alerts regarding significant or emerging threats affecting the hobby.
HIN Threat Briefs
COMING SOONEducational intelligence describing methods, patterns and risks organizations should understand.
HIN Trend Reports
COMING SOONAnonymized and aggregated analysis of incident patterns affecting the trading card industry.
HIN Industry Intelligence
COMING SOONAppropriate intelligence-sharing capabilities for participating organizations subject to CTCA policies and applicable law.
HIN + GTCR
Threat Intelligence Meets Card Intelligence.
The Global Trading Card Registry provides infrastructure for registering, searching and identifying lost or stolen graded trading cards. HIN expands the intelligence layer around those incidents.
Protecting the Hobby Requires Collaboration.
No single company sees every threat affecting the trading card ecosystem. CTCA is developing the HIN Industry Partner Network to bring together organizations committed to improving information sharing, fraud prevention, consumer protection and industry trust.
A Threat to One Can Become a Threat to Many.
Why organizations should consider participating in HIN.
Earlier Awareness
Understand emerging risks before they become widespread.
Cross-Industry Visibility
Gain perspective beyond incidents occurring within a single organization.
Collective Prevention
Help strengthen safeguards across the entire hobby.
Consumer Trust
Demonstrate commitment to protecting collectors and responsible industry growth.
Intelligence Requires Responsibility.
CTCA recognizes that incident information may contain sensitive, confidential or potentially disputed information. HIN will operate under policies governing information collection, access, retention, verification, sharing and appropriate use.
Privacy
Information should only be collected and used for legitimate HIN purposes.
Controlled Access
Sensitive information should not automatically become publicly accessible.
Verification
Reports represent submitted information and should not automatically be treated as established fact.
Responsible Sharing
Information sharing should occur only when appropriate and consistent with HIN policies and applicable law.
Due Process
Where information could materially affect an individual or organization, appropriate verification and review procedures should apply.
Security
Reasonable administrative and technical safeguards should protect submitted information.
What HIN Is — And Isn't.
HIN IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT
- Intelligence sharing
- Pattern identification
- Fraud prevention
- Consumer protection
- Industry education
- Cross-industry coordination
HIN IS NOT
- ✕A public blacklist
- ✕A social-media complaint board
- ✕A substitute for law enforcement
- ✕A court or arbitration service
- ✕A platform for publishing unverified accusations
Hobby Threat Center
HIN THREAT CENTER — COMING SOON
HIN intelligence and educational resources are being developed to help collectors and businesses recognize emerging threats.
JOIN CTCA FOR INDUSTRY UPDATESBuilding the Hobby's Trust Infrastructure.
These are not random CTCA programs. They are parts of a coordinated system.
HIN
Threat Intelligence
GTCR
Card Identity & Theft Intelligence
Certified Breaker
Trusted Operators
CTCA
INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY TRUST INFRASTRUCTURE
Trusted Retailer
Trusted Businesses
Grading Accreditation
Trusted Grading Systems
Repack Certification
Trusted Products & Processes
Help Protect the Hobby.
Fraud, theft and other threats do not stop at company boundaries. Neither should the industry's ability to identify and prevent them.
An initiative of the Certified Trading Card Association
HIN is an industry intelligence and educational initiative of the Certified Trading Card Association. Information submitted to HIN may be unverified and should not be interpreted as a determination of wrongdoing. CTCA is not a law-enforcement agency and does not guarantee investigation, enforcement, recovery or resolution of reported incidents. Information is handled in accordance with applicable CTCA policies and law.