While sorting a bulk collection for the shop, we found 8 cards that just didn't look right. We put them next to real copies from our own inventory, and they turned out to be fakes: commons and uncommons from Obsidian Flames and Paldea Evolved. Cheap cards are exactly the ones nobody double-checks, which is why counterfeiters print them. Here's what gave them away.
1. The height and weight are in meters and kilograms
Most Pokémon cards have a thin strip under the artwork with the Pokédex number, height and weight. On real English cards, height is in feet and inches and weight is in pounds. Our real Salazzle reads HT: 3'11" WT: 48.9 lbs. The fake reads HT:1.2m WT:22.2kg.
That metric line matches the Japanese version of the same card, so these fakes were most likely copied from Japanese cards and translated. Heads up: Trainers, Energy cards and many ex cards don't have this strip at all, so a missing line isn't a red flag by itself.
2. The copyright line is too short
Along the bottom edge of a real Scarlet & Violet card there's a small centered line that reads ©2023 Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK (the year matches the set). Our fakes only said © 2023 Pokémon, tucked into the bottom-left corner.
One caution: some older cards print a shorter copyright line on the real thing. Two 2018 Forbidden Light Pokémon League promos we checked have it too, and they're genuine. Always compare with a real card from the same set.
3. The back looks too purple
The fakes had a brighter, lighter blue border and a purple-tinted swirl. Real backs have a deep navy border. Put a suspect card next to one you know is real and the difference jumps out.
More checks you can do at home
- Compare with a real card from the same set. This is the best test there is. Check fonts, spacing and colors side by side. On our fakes the text was a little bolder and "NO. 0758" was squeezed into "NO.0758".
- Look for spelling and symbol mistakes. Misspelled words, a missing "é" in Pokémon, or energy symbols that look off are all warning signs.
- Feel the card. Fakes often feel too glossy, too thin or too flimsy.
- Use a flashlight as a second opinion only. Shining a phone light through a card can help, but newer fakes can pass this test, so don't rely on it alone.
- Don't rip or bend cards to test them. It ruins the card, and a damaged card usually can't be returned for a refund.
- Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, especially on sealed packs.
What to do if you find fakes
- Set them aside and label them so they never get sold or traded as real.
- Keep them undamaged and contact the seller first. If that doesn't work, use the marketplace's buyer protection. eBay's Money Back Guarantee covers counterfeit items, and TCGplayer asks for problems to be reported within 30 days.
Our promise
We took these 8 fakes out of our inventory, and every card in the shop is checked by hand before it ships. Every single is photographed front and back, so you can see exactly what you're getting.