-- In 2018, entrepreneurs Arnold Luk and Edi Abramov were defrauded of half a million dollars’ worth of counterfeit Jordan Bred Toe 1s—a blow that would later define the course of their company, CheckCheck. Both veterans of the sneaker resale trade, the two had built a career handling limited-edition stock, managing global logistics, and navigating the murky territory of streetwear authentication. Yet even they weren’t immune to the increasingly convincing counterfeit market.
“We realized then that even people like us, with years of experience, could get scammed,” said Luk. “That wasn’t just frustrating—it was dangerous for the entire resale ecosystem.”
The incident became the catalyst for CheckCheck’s launch: a mobile-first platform designed to authenticate sneakers quickly and accurately. Since then, the company has expanded well beyond its origins. As of 2025, CheckCheck has processed over 2 million authentication requests and recorded more than 3 million app downloads across over 20 countries, with its primary markets in the United States and Canada.
Expanding Beyond Sneakers: Handbags, Labubus, and More
What started as a niche solution for sneaker collectors is now broadening its scope. In 2024, CheckCheck formally added authentication services for luxury handbags, men’s bags, and collectible toys like Labubus—a move prompted by user demand and shifting resale patterns.
“The request for bag authentication came directly from our users,” said Abramov. “They trusted us with sneakers and started asking us to help them with luxury items too. It wasn’t a pivot; it was a progression.”
According to Future Market Insights, the secondhand apparel and luxury goods market in the U.S. and Canada is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% through 2035. As resale becomes mainstream, new categories—particularly luxury bags and high-end collectibles—are becoming prime targets for counterfeiting. CheckCheck’s move into these areas reflects both a tactical response and a deeper structural evolution: transitioning from a consumer-facing app to a scalable, backend platform used by marketplaces and resellers.
Hybrid Authentication Model Gains Traction
What differentiates CheckCheck in a competitive field is not just what it authenticates, but how it does so. Rather than relying solely on AI or a single human reviewer, CheckCheck employs a hybrid model: every item submitted is reviewed by two expert authenticators, supported by technology that helps flag inconsistencies and patterns for further inspection.
This dual-review system adds operational overhead, but Luk and Abramov argue it’s critical to maintaining consistency and accuracy, particularly when counterfeiters are improving their methods. “Our goal has never been speed alone,” said Luk. “But being consistently right, even when it’s hard.”
Internal metrics provided by the company show a dispute resolution rate of less than 1% and an average response time of under 30 minutes for sneaker checks. The company’s internal training protocols are updated regularly to adapt to new materials and counterfeiting techniques.
The Enterprise Turn: APIs and Infrastructure
In a move that could redefine its customer base, CheckCheck has expanded into enterprise services. In early 2024, the company launched its Enterprise API and SDK, which allows third-party platforms, including e-commerce marketplaces, warehouses, and resellers, to integrate authentication directly into their operations.
This step transitions CheckCheck from a standalone app into a modular infrastructure layer supporting resale logistics and fraud prevention. While the company does not disclose revenue figures, internal estimates suggest that enterprise clients now account for a growing portion of daily authentications.
Industry analysts note that authentication-as-a-service is gaining ground, particularly as resale platforms seek to differentiate themselves on trust and transaction security. With global counterfeiting expected to cost the fashion industry up to $1.2 trillion by 2030, according to the OECD, built-in validation is becoming a commercial necessity rather than an optional feature.
Leadership Anchored in Industry Experience
Luk and Abramov’s leadership is rooted in a decade of hands-on trading in luxury goods. Before founding CheckCheck, they operated within the very secondary markets they now serve, giving them a practical understanding of the flaws and pain points in item validation and transaction confidence.
Their early decision to self-fund and manage all aspects of the company - customer support, tech development, and legal compliance - created a model of lean operations and iterative product building. Their credibility in sneaker communities also gave CheckCheck a rare form of organic traction: word-of-mouth promotion in high-trust online forums.
In 2024, the duo brought on Perry Nguyen as CEO. A former biotech executive, Nguyen brings experience scaling regulated technology services and is tasked with expanding CheckCheck’s infrastructure and business development footprint. Under his guidance, the company has begun working on CheckCheck Digital ID - an initiative aimed at linking each authenticated item to a unique digital signature, potentially reducing return fraud and aiding traceability in resale.
Challenges Ahead in a Growing Market
CheckCheck’s next phase involves competing in a sector that’s growing more crowded and technologically complex. Competitors have begun using computer vision and blockchain for decentralized verification, while others rely entirely on AI for cost efficiency. Meanwhile, consumer expectations around pricing, speed, and UX continue to climb.
Still, Luk and Abramov remain focused on refining internal processes and reinforcing their accuracy-first ethos. “The market may evolve, but the core problem stays the same,” said Abramov. “People want to know if something is real. That’s not going away.”
As resale becomes a fixture of global fashion commerce, the tools built to support it will require more precision, adaptability, and scale. For CheckCheck, the shift from app to platform signals not just company growth, but a broader recalibration of what authenticity means in the digital age.
Contact Info:
Name: Thomas Wright
Email: Send Email
Organization: CheckCheck
Website: https://getcheckcheck.com/
Release ID: 89162538
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