With a few cards being extremely valuable, it’s very important to know how to tell if Pokémon cards are fake. You wouldn’t want to find a card that is supposedly worth a pretty penny and take it only to find out it’s fake and completely worthless. You also need to know how to tell if someone is trying to sell you a supposedly valuable card. Overall, fake cards can be pretty convincing, so it’s imperative to know the difference as best as possible.

How to tell if Pokémon cards are fake when you buy them

Real expensive Pokémon cards are constructed with two thin pieces of cardboard that are glued together. There is a black layer in between. If you rip the card or cut it open, you’ll be able to see the layer of black. If it isn’t there, it’s a fake card. Unfortunately, that means you have to destroy the card to find out if it’s fake.

It’s always a good idea to buy from places that verify purchases. If you’re a card collector and buy from online sites, make sure they have some sort of proof that it’s a legitimate card. For example, TCGplayer is a big trading card website. They offer what’s called the TCGplayer Buyer Safeguard, which ensures that your purchase is good. Check other sites to see if they have these before proceeding.

There are several ways to check if a card is fake before ripping into it, though. For starters, your eyes will often be the key. If something looks off, there’s a good chance it is. If you have opened a lot of cards before, there’s a good chance your eyes know what things are supposed to look like. Trust your intuition.

Check for fake Pokémon cards

Furthermore, any spelling error automatically means the card is fake. The Pokémon Company will never release a card with an error like that. If there’s a mistake in grammar, spelling or anything of that sort, it is a fake. Pay special attention to the word “Pokémon”. If it’s typed out like “Pokemon” without the accent, it’s a fake as well.

HP or Attack values exceeding 1000 mean the card is fake, too. As of 2021, no Pokémon card has an HP higher than 340, so anything above that number is fake.

To do a different kind of check, take two cards- one that is real and the one you suspect is fake. Compare the backs of the cards. While the alignment won’t always match up, the color shading and imagery will. All backs of cards are the same, so if one differs, it’s probably fake. Washed out colors, bleeding and more are a true indicator of a fake Pokémon card.

Another good way to check is to look at the official database. All cards that have come out are online somewhere, so find the official version. If something looks different on your card, it’s a fake. If it looks the same, then chances are good that you have a genuine card.

Final checks for fake Pokemon trading cards

Red flags for cards include:

• Wrong font or size
• Wrong energy symbols or incorrectly sized symbols
• Incorrect HP value
• Invalid attack damage values
• Incorrect weakness, resistance, or retreat cost
• Wrong set symbol or number
• Foil when there shouldn’t be any or vice versa

For example, a VMAX card will always have foil. If it’s not foiled, it’s a fake. Generally speaking, unless a pack or box has been resealed (which does happen, so be sure to note the condition of the box or packs when you buy from a third-party), the cards within it are real. If you find a single card somewhere, it could be fake.

Read Also: How Many Pokemon Types Are There?

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