Pokémon is the largest media franchise in the world. With that sort of popularity and worth, it comes as no surprise that the counterfeit market is awash with replica Pokémon cards. At car boot sales in particular, it’s easy to be stung by sellers (wittingly or unwittingly) touting shady cards. Some are blatant, others are reassuringly realistic, but none of them are worth anything.
Whether you are buying cards for your kids, collecting for nostalgia, or hoping to find hidden gems, this guide will teach you how to spot fake Pokémon cards like a pro.
Why Fake Pokémon Cards Are So Common
The counterfeit Pokémon card business is massive. We’re talking tons of fake cards – literally. Chinese customs confiscated over 7.6 tons of fakes in 2023. And that’s only what was intercepted. Plenty more find their way into markets, car boots, and online listings.
There are Magic or Yu-Gi-Oh! counterfeits, but Pokémon counterfeits are something else, and they’re mostly targeting kids or casual buyers who have no clue what to watch out for.
Not only are these cards unofficial, they can’t be played in tournaments, they can’t be resold legally, and they are of no real value.
But luckily, with a little know-how, they’re usually pretty simple to spot.
Trust Your Instincts First
Prior to jumping into technical tests, begin with your intuition. If a card doesn’t feel right, colour, font, feel, or even a vibe – don’t dismiss it. That intuitive sense becomes more acute the more authentic cards you deal with.
The Feel Test: Does It Feel Right?
Real cards have a certain feel:
- Printed on high-quality cardstock
- Slightly textured surface
- Flexible when bent gently but firm
Fakes feel wrong:
- Too smooth, thin, or papery
- Too shiny or thick like photo paper
- Too stiff or too flexible
A bend test is quick and assists as well – real cards bend and then snap back easily. Don’t push your luck, however, if it could be real!
The Card Back: Dead Giveaway
All Pokémon cards in English since 1999 have the same back. Compare with a familiar genuine card:
What to check:
- Pokémon logo: font, spacing, and colors need to be exact
- Pokéball picture: color, orientation, and clarity
- Blue border: correct and uniform color
- Colors: not washed out, but not over-saturated either
- Copyright notice: “© Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / GAME FREAK inc.” and appropriate year
The majority of fakes get at least one of them wrong.
The Front of the Card: Look Closely
Print and art quality are paramount.
- Pixelated or blurry artwork? Probably a fake.
- Inconsistencies or misalignments in fonts? Another red flag.
- Spelling of Pokémon names incorrect? Walk away.
- Off-centre or unusual sizes of energy and attack symbols? Also counterfeit.
Holo cards especially should:
- Have smooth rainbow shimmer when tilted
- Cover the proper area of the card
- Not resemble foil stickers or inexpensive gloss
The Text Test: Simple but Effective
Things to look out for:
- Bad grammar or spelling mistakes
- “Pokemon” without the é (accent)
- Atypical language (e.g., “Pocket Monster” instead of “Pokémon”)
- Unrealistic statistics: HP or attack above 340 is not real
This is the fastest check you can do and generally gives immediate suggestions.
The Set Info and Rarity Symbol
Bottom right of each card should display:
- Rarity symbol (● for common, ◆ for uncommon, ★ for rare)
- Number and symbol of cards set
Red flags:
- No symbol, blurred symbol, or incorrect one
- Invalid card number (e.g., 150/100)
- Non-existent or fake set symbols
Verify online if you are uncertain.
Compare with Online Scans
Use databases like pkmncards.com to compare templates:
- Artwork
- Stats and symbols
- Energy and font icons
- Number and holo status
Ensure you’re viewing the identical version of the card — certain cards have several releases.
Compare With a Real Card
This is the most reliable method if you’re unsure.
Try to find a:
- Same set card
- Same rarity and holo type
Search for variation in:
- Weight and thickness of cards
- Foil texture
- Edge and cut quality
- Print clarity
The smallest inconsistencies can be a huge red flag.
The Rip Test (Only If It’s Worthless and Seller Agrees)
If you’re buying a cheap bulk pack and the seller explicitly allows it, you can do the rip test:
- Tear an obviously fake or worthless card in half.
- Authentic cards contain a black inner layer of ink between two layers of paper.
- Fakes normally won’t, they’ll simply tear like regular cardboard or paper.
⚠️ Never do this to possibly real or valuable cards. It’s damaging and should be a last resort.
Avoid the Light Test
Though some people claim you can identify fakes by holding a light through them, it’s not trustworthy. Authentic cards differ based on where and when they were printed, and lighting conditions impact the test.
It can produce false positives, so best avoided unless very experienced.
Don’t Do the Bend Test
Bending a card to determine whether it recovers may damage it — and isn’t required. Whenever a card does not feel correct, compare it instead.
Your hands are so sensitive that you can tell without folding anything.
English vs Japanese Cards
Be cautious when buying Japanese Pokémon cards from boot sales.
Fakes target buyers unfamiliar with the language.
- Mixed-language cards (half English, half Japanese) = fake
- Check against scans of actual Japanese cards if in doubt
Unless you know what you’re looking at, it’s best to keep it in English.
Sealed Products Can Also Be Counterfeit
Scammers also fake booster packs and boxes:
Look for:
- Hard, crackly plastic wrap (meant to be soft with Poké Ball logo)
- Bad spelling/grammar on packaging
- Artwork is from anime (actual boxes utilize official TCG artwork)
- Airy or loose booster packs
- Rares in unexpected places or in the wrong orientation in packs
If you are buying sealed products, buy from trusted sellers. If the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
Price and Seller Red Flags
Be careful if:
- Rare cards are sold individually for too cheap
- Entire boxes of “rares” are being exchanged in bulk
- Seller has no clue about Pokémon
- Responses are inconsistent or vague
The majority of real collections are being sold by individuals who at least have some idea about what they have.
Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to avoid getting scammed is simple: handle more real cards. Over time, your instincts sharpen, and fakes become easy to spot.
If in doubt, walk away, there will always be other cards to find. And keep in mind: the folks printing fakes are only doing so because the demand is so high. Don’t let them make a profit off you.
Keep your wits about you, ask questions, and happy hunting.
