How to recognise a fake Pokémon card

Counterfeits mostly concern expensive cards. Charizard, rare illustrations, golden cards... No single check is sufficient on its own. The more points you verify, the lower the risk of error.

Compare with a real card

Place the card next to an authentic card from the same set, or at least from the same era. Compare the colours, thickness, glossiness, and sharpness of the text.

Printing and text

• On a real card, the text is sharp, even in small print.
• On a fake card, the font for hit points, attacks, and damage is often different.
• Check the spelling, energy symbols, and card number. The number must match the set.

The back

The blue on the back is the same on all real cards (on Japanese cards, the illustration is different, which is normal). On a fake card, it is often too light, too dark, or slightly purple, and the pattern is less detailed.

The edge

A real card is made of several layers of cardboard, with a thin dark layer in the middle. Look at the edge with a magnifying glass. Many fake cards do not have this layer. Others are thinner or more rigid.

The surface

Recent rare cards (rare illustrations, full image cards, golden cards) have a textured surface that can be felt to the touch. A smooth version of these cards is suspicious. The holographic pattern should also be the same as on a real card.

The price

Be wary of a card sold much cheaper than its market value. Compare with other listings and with the price of recent sales, displayed on each card page.

On BDPokéCards

• Each listing shows front and back photos of the card for sale. You can ask the seller a question or request a photo of the edge.
• Sellers must verify their identity before selling.
• Counterfeits are prohibited. If you receive a fake card, you will be fully refunded and the seller will be suspended.
• For an expensive card, you can choose a graded card: the grading company has already verified its authenticity.