Counterfeit Pokémon cards

A counterfeit Pokémon card is a copy passed off as genuine, with the intent to deceive the buyer. It differs from a proxy card, which is an openly labeled copy for playing, and from a misprint, which is a genuine card with a production error. Counterfeits exist at all price levels, but are most common among sought-after and expensive cards.

What collectors check

No single check is conclusive, but a combination gives a good picture. Collectors typically look at:

• Print quality: sharpness of text and artwork, the colors, and whether the print pattern looks unusual under magnification.
• Font and symbols: letter spacing, thickness, energy symbols, weakness fields and the printed information at the bottom of the card.
• The back: the color and pattern on the back are often difficult to copy exactly.
• Card stock and surface: how the card feels, bends and reflects light. The holo effect on genuine cards usually has a particular pattern for its era.
• Edges: how the edges look and whether the layers of the card are visible.
• Size and thickness: small deviations are possible in copies.

Several of the simple home tests circulating online are unreliable and can damage the card. Avoid bending, tearing or soaking a card to test it.

Comparison with a genuine card

The most reliable method is to place the card next to a copy you are certain is genuine, from the same set and printing, and compare the details. Knowing how a card is built helps; see anatomy of a card. Older cards can have printing variants that look different without being fake, so knowledge of the editions is necessary.

Where the risk is greatest

• A price far below what is usual is a warning sign, see scams when trading.
• Photos taken from the internet, or that do not show the card clearly from both sides.
• Cards sold in large, unverified lots from distant markets.
• Graded cards can also be fake; see fake slabs.

Precautions

Many collectors deal with sellers who have a good track record, ask for close-up photos and use the platform's buyer protection. Professional grading also includes an authentication check, and the companies reject cards they consider fake. Anyone suspecting a counterfeit can contact the seller and the platform and document everything. Store your own cards properly so they are not damaged and hard to assess, see storing cards.