How to tell if a Pokemon Card is fake?
Lately i’ve been getting e-mails from parents asking for tips on how to tell if their kids Pokemon cards are fake. Unfortunately these poor kids have had to go through the traumatising experience on bringing their favourite Pokemon cards to school, only to be told that their cards are fake. It really hurts and I understand as I have been in that shoe before. So I have decided to write this post to help parents spot the difference between real Pokemon cards vs fake Pokemon cards.
Following are some handy tips on how to spot fake Pokemon cards
1. Check the copy/text
An instant giveaway would be spelling and grammatical mistakes on the card. Notice its font being used and its readibility.
2. Check the back.
Fake Pokemon cards usually has a lighter (washed out) or darker hue when compared with the official product. They lack distinct border bleeding and surface may seem a lot more glossy.
3. Check the texture
Fake Pokemon cards are usually either very thin (flimsy) or thick when compared with official item. Fake Pokemon cards also tends to have a glossy surface. It may also lack texture that is supposed to be on specific rarity cards.
4. Finally, trust your gut, if something feels off, its probably fake.
Hopefully these handy tips above is enough to keep you away from the obvious fakes. I understand printing quality improved a lot with these fake cards, so it is getting harder to spot the difference, but the community is here to help. If in doubt, ask on social platforms, there are many professionals and helpful people who are willing to help.
Here are some useful links for your reference:
Or check out Leonhart’s video on how to spot fake Pokemon cards below
Good luck and I wish you all the best with you and your kid’s collecting journey! May you never come across fake cards!
with much love, TCG Collectors
