Abstract: A system for authentication an item comprises a software program executing on a server having one or more sets of instructions executable on a processor of the server. A first set of instructions of the one or more sets of instructions is configured to receive a code scanned from the item. A second set of instructions of the one or more sets of instructions is configured to authenticate the code. A third set of instructions of the one or more sets of instructions configured to transmit a message regarding the authentication of the item, wherein the first set of instructions receives the code as scanned form the item as a pass-through with respect to the mobile device whereby the second set of instructions are further configured to directly authenticate the NFC tag on the server and not on the mobile device.