How to Know if Pokémon Cards are Fake

Collecting Pokémon cards is a popular pastime for both kids and adults. Although basic decks are cheap, you can end up spending a lot of money on rare or first edition Pokémon cards. Sadly, forgers frequently target Pokémon cards because of their collectible value.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Look for bad text and fuzzy printed graphics. Letters should be crisp and easily read, and graphics should have the correct shading and size.

2. Use the light test to detect fake Pokémon cards. If you hold your card up to a window or light source and see the design on the back clearly, chances are you're holding a fake Pokémon card.

3. Check for unusual backgrounds or images. Early sets of Japanese Pokémon have the Pocket Monsters graphic on the back, but you'll find many fakes substitute the English Pokémon backing instead.

4. Find spelling or grammatical errors on your Pokémon cards. If they spelled simple words like "the" or "Pokémon" incorrectly, you may want to try the light test.

5. Look for shadows on first editions. First edition Pokémon cards from the base set are shadowless. Many fake cards are normal Pokémon cards with a first edition stamp added.

6. Test the card's paper. Most fake Pokémon cards are either too thin or too thick. In addition, a card should have a matte finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Sealed booster packs may seem safe, but some people create fake booster packs, as well. Always inspect your cards, no matter where they're from.