1. Trust your intuition
Your gut is often your best friend. If a card feels "wrong"—perhaps due to weight, texture, or appearance—it's worth a closer look. The more you handle real Pokemon cards, the better your ability to spot anomalies will become.
2. Review the text carefully
Fake card. This is why you should always review the text on the card carefully.
Check for typos and grammatical errors :
- Typos : Genuine cards rarely have typos. If you see words that are misspelled, it can be a warning sign.
- Grammatical errors : Improper grammar or strange sentence structures can indicate a forgery.
- Accent over "é" : The word "Pokémon" must always have an accent over "é". Absence of this is a common sign of a fake card.
- Unnaturally high values :
- HP and attack values : According to the standard until 2023, no Pokemon cards have HP above 340. If you encounter higher values, you should be suspicious.
3. Inspect the back of the card
Fake card on the left - even without taking into account the color bleeding at the edge, no real Pokemon card looks like that.
Fake card on the left. The colors seem washed out, especially when you compare the edges.
The back of a Pokemon card is often difficult for counterfeiters to replicate exactly.
- Color Bleeding : If the blue border bleeds into the yellow frame or if the colors appear blurry.
- Shades of color : Real cards have clear and vivid colors. Watered down or faded colors may indicate a fake.
- Details : Small details, such as the sharpness of the logo or text, can reveal the authenticity.
4. Compare with official images
Use reliable sources like " the official Trading Card Database" or " PokéCollector " to compare your card.
- Font and size. Counterfeits may have different fonts or the wrong size of the text.
- Energy symbols . Check that the energy symbols are correct and positioned correctly.
- Illustrations. The image on the card must match the official version exactly.
5. Compare with a genuine card
Fake card on the left. Note how the fake Ultra Ball card looks completely flat, while the foil print on the genuine Ultra Ball card has a unique texture
Having a genuine card as a reference can be very helpful.
- Feel and Weight : Genuine cards have a specific feel and weight that counterfeits often lack.
- Thickness and quality : Counterfeit cards may be thinner or thicker and have a different paper quality.
- Edge Finish : Unclean or uneven edges can be an indicator of a fake.
6. Be careful with some tests
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The light test checks the thickness and quality of a card by shining light behind it and seeing how much light passes through. If too much light passes through, it may indicate that the card is fake. However, the test can be unreliable because real Pokemon cards can vary and different foiling techniques react differently to light. Therefore, we recommend instead comparing the text or feel of the card with another card from the same series.
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The bend test involves bending the card to see if it returns to its original shape. As the test damages the card, we do not recommend it. Your finger can feel the durability of the card without bending it.
- The tear test involves tearing the card to reveal if it is made of two thin cardboard sheets with a black layer in between. Because this test damages the card and can be expensive to perform, we do not recommend it.
Tips to avoid buying fake Pokémon cards
- Buy from trusted sources
- Buy from authorized dealers or reputable sellers with good reviews.
- Be skeptical of unusually low prices
- If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- If you're shopping online, ask the seller for high-resolution images of the card from multiple angles.
Summary
Being able to identify fake Pokémon cards is critical to protecting your collection and investment. By trusting your intuition, carefully examining text and details, comparing with official sources and being careful with certain tests, you can reduce the risk of being scammed. Remember to always buy from trusted sources and be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
