Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Are the correct images and attacks on the map?
• Method 2 of 4: Colors
• Method 3 of 4: Size and weight
• Method 4 of 4: Examine a Pokémon card
• Tips
• Warnings

Pokémon cards are extremely popular and are collected by more and more people. Unfortunately, there are many fake cards in circulation that are sold by scammers to avid collectors. Often times, however, these fake Pokémon cards are quite easy to spot. Want to know how to tell if Pokémon cards are real or fake? Then read on quickly.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Are the correct images and attacks on the map?

1. Know what Pokémon should look like. Sometimes the wrong illustration is on a card or there is even not even Pokémon, but Digimon on cards, for example. Pay close attention to whether a card looks good or to be on the safe side, look up what specific cards should look like. If there is a sticker on the card, you can assume that the card is fake.
2. Check out the Pokémon's attacks and HP. If the HP is over 250 or the attacks don't exist, you are clearly dealing with a fake card. Even if it only says 80 instead of 80 HP, you can still assume that something is wrong. This only applies to old Pokémon cards; the new variants show HP 80 instead of 80 HP.
   • There are some original cards that show printing errors and have the reverse order printed on them. So first look at other aspects of the card before you label it a fake. Original cards with printing errors are very rare and can therefore be extra valuable.
3. Look carefully for spelling errors, wide borders around the Pokémon's artwork, or a strange energy symbol.
4. Compare the energy symbol with that on other cards. Many fake cards have energy symbols that are slightly larger, fainter, or simply different from those on original copies.
5. View the text. Texts are often printed slightly smaller on fake cards than on original cards. It also regularly happens that a different font is used.
6. Check out the weakness, resistance and withdrawal costs. The maximum number for both weakness and resistance is +/- 40 unless the weakness is x2. The withdrawal fee never exceeds 4.
7. Check the card box. If you're dealing with fake cards, you won't find any trademarks on the box. Often, somewhere on the box will have a text such as "pre-release trading cards". In addition, the box will feel cheap and the packaging of the cards themselves will also be different.
8. Check the card for spelling errors. Spelling mistakes regularly occur on fake cards. For example, the name of a Pokémon is often misspelled or the dash on the é of Pokémon is missing. The name or description of an attack can also be misspelled and energy symbols will be missing on some cards.
9. First edition Pokémon cards will always have a stamp on the left side of the card. However, some fake cards will also contain this stamp. How to tell the difference between a fake stamp and an original one? First, a fake stamp will be less perfect and will contain smudges or smudges, for example. Second, you can often easily rub off fake stamps with your finger.

Method 2 of 4: Colors

1. Look carefully to see if the colors are faint, blotchy, too dark, or simply different. An exception to this rule are cards from the special Shining collection, which have a different color on purpose. The chance that the factory will print a card in the wrong color is very small; you are probably dealing with a fake card.
2. Look at the back of the card. Fake cards often have a purplish glow. The Pokéball is also often printed upside down on fake cards. On a real card, the top half of the ball is red and the bottom half is white.

Method 3 of 4: Size and weight

1. Inspect the card itself. A fake card often feels thin and fragile. You can often see through it if you hold it up to the light. However, some fake cards are too hard and shiny. If a card is bigger or smaller than usual, that's a clear sign that you're dealing with a faker. The material can also tell you a lot about a map; fake cards often feel like paper, while original cards look more like plastic. Moreover, fake cards do not have a copyright date and illustrator at the bottom of the card.
2. Grab a second card. Does this card have the same format? Are the corners too pointed? Is the picture of the Pokémon in the center? Are the edges around the image wider than usual?
3. Try to bend the card. If this is very easy, you are dealing with a fake card. Original Pokémon cards are sturdy and not easily bendable.

Method 4 of 4: Examine a Pokémon card

1. If you're sure you're dealing with a fake card, try cracking it. Do the same with an old original Pokémon card that you no longer use and compare the cracks. If the first card tore more easily than the second, you are clearly dealing with a fake card.
2. A quick way to check if a Pokémon card is genuine is to take a good look at the edge of the card. Real Pokémon cards consist of multiple layers of paper, giving you a thin black border. You may not notice this from a distance, but if you look closely at the card, you can clearly see the black paper layer. The black border will be missing with fake cards.

Tips

• Make sure you know exactly what the real Pokémon cards look like by taking a good look at them. This way you will be able to recognize fake cards faster from now on.
• Bring a stack of real cards with you when buying tickets. This way you can compare the offered cards next to your own cards and compare them easily.
• Buy sealed packs of Pokémon cards or special card collections instead of single cards.
• Cards sold at major toy stores such as Intertoys are always genuine.
• Avoid buying Pokémon cards at flea markets or from online merchants. Here you almost always pay too much and there is a good chance that you will have to deal with fake cards.
• Do not use websites that allow you to make your own Pokémon cards.
• On some fake cards, Pokémon have suddenly been renamed. For example, there are cards of "Webarak" in circulation, while this Pokémon is actually called "Spinarak". So pay close attention to whether the name of the Pokémon matches the name in the Pokédex.
• Original Pokémon cards show the illustrator's name at the bottom left of the card. If this name is missing, you are probably dealing with a fake card.
• Make sure the images on the card are sharp. Many fake cards have fainter graphics and thicker fonts than original cards.
• If you still want to buy a single card from someone or exchange it with someone, always ask where the card comes from first. This way you can make a good estimate whether it is an original or a fake card.

Warnings

• Booster packs can also be fake. Apply the above rules to all types of Pokémon cards to avoid getting scammed.
• Some fake cards can hardly be distinguished from original cards. Do you want to make sure that all cards in your collection are original? Then only buy tickets from reliable sellers.
• Energy cards are the easiest to forge and so it is very difficult to distinguish fake from real with these cards. Take a good look at the symbols on the cards and compare them with original cards. If a symbol appears to be larger or less sharp, you are probably dealing with a fake card.