How can you spot a fake Pokémon card?

What do fake Pokémon cards feel like?

If your card feels too flimsy, too light, too rough, or too slick, there's a high chance that it's a fake. Most of the time, counterfeit cards have a different feel to them because they are made from cheaper materials. A genuine Pokémon card will have a thick and high quality finish.

Do fake Pokémon cards have codes?

Click here to learn how to spot fake cards. Fake booster packs sometimes contain the usual (an energy, code card, multiple commons, a reverse holo, and a rare) but most are stuffed full of big hits. If you pull multiple full art holo cards from each pack, that's a hard sign that you got fake packs.

Can you play Pokémon with fake cards?

It reduces the enjoyment for others as you'll have an unfair advantage. Equally, it doesn't obey the rules of fair play and respect that Pokemon strives for. Therefore, we recommend you don't use fake Pokemon cards, regardless of the scenario.

How to avoid buying fake Pokémon cards?

As a whole, Pokemon cards on eBay and auction sites are not fake. Most cards being sold on auction sites are real, but it is not uncommon to find fake cards being sold. Auctions that do no display clear images of a card should be avoided.

5 Ways to Spot Fake Pokémon Cards

Is a Pokémon card fake if it bends?

Another simple test you can perform is “The Bend Test”. Hold the Pokemon card with two fingers, one at the top and one at the bottom and bend the card over. Genuine Pokemon cards won't crease when they're bent… fake ones often will.

Are McDonald's Pokémon cards real?

Are Pokémon cards from McDonald's real? Yes, they are real and are created by The Pokémon company for McDonald's.

Do fake Pokémon cards smell different?

1. We all know that booster fresh smell when you open a pack of legit Pokémon cards right? It seems one thing these counterfeitters haven't quite mastered is recreating it, many of the fake cards don't smell 'booster fresh' and might smell a bit plasticy/different.

Do real Pokémon cards have foil?

The major thing about these all-foil legendary cards is that the actual text box is foil, but the picture box is not, which was very different for Pokémon. And on all the fakes, again, everything is foil. Everything is really bright, and, ugh, it hurts your eyes to look at it.

Do fake Pokémon cards have texture?

3. Holographic pattern. Fake cards also tend to imitate the holographic effect of the various sets of the Pokemon trading card game very badly. The worst fakes will print the card's texture instead of replicating it in the card-making process.

Is it a crime to sell fake Pokémon cards?

It is absolutely illegal to create and sell fake Pokemon cards, just as much as it is illegal to sell pirated movies. It is also illegal to sell fakes on eBay, even if you only bought them by accident and tell people they're fake.

What is the rarest Pokemon card in 2023?

As of February 2023, an Illustrator CoroCoro Comics Promo (Pikachu illustrator card) was the most expensive Pokémon trading card in the world, having been sold at auction for six million U.S. dollars.

What is the rarest Pokemon card?

The Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram card is the rarest Pokémon card in existence. Only two of these cards were ever made, created by Wizards of the Coast in order to obtain the contract to produce Pokémon cards for The Pokémon Company.

What is the rarest Pokemon card you can get from McDonald's?

2002 Pokemon Japanese Mew McDonalds Promo Card – $600

One of the rarest Pokémon chilling out amongst your chicken nuggets and chips.

Is a Pokémon card fake if the back is purple?

Fake cards are often poorly produced and tend to have a much lower print quality than a real card. Colors often come through as overly dark, blues will often become muted or even purplish, the print of the card itself may even look like it has an almost fabric-like pattern in it.

Who bought a fake Pokémon card?

Paul bought what he thought was a case of first edition Pokemon cards that would have been worth millions. However, Rovell noted the cards, which were sold to Paul by card dealer Matt Allen, were worth $359.

What happened to the guy who sold fake Pokemon cards?

Police say a man named Michael McCoy sold fake Pokémon cards with "little to no value" for thousands of dollars. Police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have arrested a man for allegedly selling counterfeit Pokémon cards for thousands of dollars.

Are old Pokemon cards illegal?

The Pokémon Trading Card Game rules adjust the legality of Pokémon card series and expansions with each season, but owners of old cards have options. The Pokémon Trading Card Game has many old and valuable cards, but only recent collections (like Pokémon Sword & Shield) are allowed in official tournament play.

What are secret rare Pokémon cards?

A secret card is a card whose collection number is greater than the listed number of cards in the set, for example, numbered 101/100. Secret cards are generally rarer than the other cards in the set, and typically are holofoil cards as well.

What does R mean on Pokémon cards?

For example, {R} would denote one Fire Energy symbol. In addition, some attacks use “--” as its Energy cost. This means there is no Energy cost to use that attack. Guide to Rarity Symbols. Throughout this document, letters have been used to represent rarity symbols.

What does a rare Pokemon card look like?

Rare cards have a black star. Rare Holo cards have a black star and a “shiny” (foil) illustration. In many English sets, for every rare holo card there is another card at a lower rarity that is identical in terms of gameplay, but has a different collector card number.

What do ultra rare Pokémon cards look like?

All Ultra Rare Pokémon cards have a holographic shine on them. Their art is also special, covering either half or the full card. Pokémon-EX – Introduced in the Next Destinies set, the EX cards have also appeared in the later XY series and the Black & White series.