5 tips for spotting a fake Pokémon trading card
Although we all want every online purchase to result in genuine cards, there are plenty of fake card sellers online. Even on reputable sites such as Amazon and eBay, as well as classified ad sites such as Leboncoin and Facebook Marketplace. Most of the time, these fake cards are easy to spot. There are a number of details that can help you distinguish a fake Pokémon card from a real one. Below are the most common clues for spotting fake Pokémon cards.
1. Text font
Fake cards often use different fonts to those you'll find on real Pokémon cards. It's a good idea to get a fake card and a real card, preferably from the same game, and compare the two. More often than not, you'll be able to spot the differences between the two types of font straight away. Pay attention not only to the type of font used, but also to the size of the font. Fake cards will often have font sizes that are a little too large or too small compared to the authentic one.
The text on the cards can also be misspelled, letting you know straight away that the cards are not genuine. Official Pokémon cards have paid professionals to proofread them before printing, which is not the case with counterfeit cards. You may think this tip is obvious, and you'd be right, but that's what makes it so essential to always keep in mind. Because this tip is so simple, it's often overlooked and many collectors fall victim to fake Pokémon cards because they don't spend the seconds it would take to completely re-read the text on the card. So always check the spelling on any card you think may be counterfeit. Inauthentic cards may, for example, omit the accent on the word "Pokémon".
On the left a fake pokémon card, on the right a real pokémon card
2. The back of the card
Many sources say that the back of a Pokemon card is one of the easiest ways to authenticate it. Some sources claim that this method is up to 80% effective. Fake cards often have an inconsistent colouring (a lighter shade of blue). Look at the top right-hand corner of the Poké Ball on the back of the card. On a genuine card, this area will have different shades of blue mixed in. On a fake card, this area will often be filled with a single shade of blue.
When inspecting the back of a Pokémon card, it's a good idea to have a card you know to be genuine to hand. The subtleties and amount of small details present on the backs of Pokémon cards can make them quite difficult to simulate accurately. As the saying goes, "the devil is in the detail".
On the left a fake pokémon card, on the right a real pokémon card
3. Holographic pattern
Fake cards also tend to imitate the holographic effect of the various Pokémon trading card sets very poorly. The worst fakes will print the texture that the card should have instead of replicating it in the card manufacturing process. And although it sounds strange to hear, fake Pokémon cards tend to have an almost very simple holographic effect. In short, they simply don't glow properly. Sometimes these fake chase cards will also have a brownish, yellowish or orange tint.
So, while this tip is much more specific to the particular card you're looking to own, it's a good idea to do a bit of research into the holographic versions available for that card.
On the left a fake pokémon card, on the right a real pokémon card
4. Energy symbols
Energy symbols in the Pokémon entry at the top of the card, in the Pokémon's attack costs and in the Weakness, Resistance and Retreat Cost sections of the card are often misaligned, distorted, the wrong size or missing altogether. As with the font, fake cards can have energy symbols that are sometimes too big or too small. They may also be out of alignment or look slightly distorted.
Energy symbols may even be missing in some cases, instead of being placed under the attack description as they should be. Again, this may seem like an obvious detail, but it can be difficult to remember to inspect something that isn't even there. It's best to get into the habit of confirming the presence of energy symbols.
If the symbol looks unusual, check the rest of the card.
On the left a fake pokémon card, on the right a real pokémon card
5. Card material
Often, fake cards will be smoother and more fragile than the real thing. With counterfeit Pokemon cards, you'll notice an overly shiny feel on the front or back of the card. Counterfeit cards will bend and tear much more easily than the real thing. Do NOT go tearing your cards in half, but if you've exhausted all other options, this is the last resort. In the photo below, the fake card is on the left and the real card is on the right. You'll see a noticeable difference.
On the left a fake pokémon card, on the right a real pokémon card
Secure the purchase of your collectible Pokémon cards with Obvy
Some Pokémon cards (especially the rare ones) can often only be found on classified ad sites, so you can buy them for less than you would in an official shop! Unfortunately, some people take advantage of this to sell counterfeit Pokémon cards to private individuals, making it easy to rip them off while recouping the money from the transaction.
Our guide will help you in your quest to authenticate Pokémon cards. But that's not enough. It's also vital to ensure the security of your transaction by using a secure payment solution such as Obvy.
With Obvy as your payment method, you're guaranteed against scams, because if there's a scam attempt, or if you realise on receipt of the parcel that it's a fake Pokémon card, all you have to do is turn around and you'll get a full refund of the transaction funds.