Fake Pokémon cards: how to spot fakes

The Pokémon trading card game has been around for decades, but collectors are often left with the question of how to spot fake Pokémon cards

These are the characteristics of counterfeit Pokémon cards

It is not always easy to spot counterfeit Pokémon cards, as the fakes are often very well imitated goods. High-quality fakes are very difficult to distinguish from the original. These tips will help in spotting fakes:

• Fake Pokémon cards are often printed on lower quality paper than the original trading cards. The paper is thinner and tears much more easily.

• Counterfeit cards often have a much inferior print than original cards. The colours are less intense and the ink often smears when it comes into contact with liquid. The print may also occasionally be smudged.

• The language and text are other good clues as to whether these are original Pokémon cards: Look to see if the text printed on them matches the original cards – a Google search often helps here. Occasionally, spelling or grammatical errors can be found on counterfeit cards. In general, fewer German forgeries are available than English ones.

• On the back, check that the Pokéball is facing the right way: The red side is on the top of the original cards, the white side is on the bottom, not the other way around.

• Fake Rainbow Rare cards often have a plain, smooth glossy surface coating on the front. The originals, on the other hand, have a ridged texture that is almost always missing from the counterfeit Pokémon cards.

• Other cards with holographic effects are Rare Holos and Reverse Holos. With Reverse Holos, the card has the effect but the image does not. With Rare Holo cards, the illustration has the effect. Counterfeits are often coated throughout to create the effect. The original cards are marked with a black star, which is often missing on counterfeit holo cards.

Tips for buying Pokémon cards

If you want to buy individual Pokémon cards or booster packs, then you should heed the following tips to avoid buying counterfeits:

• If possible, only buy Pokémon cards from trustworthy dealers and preferably not from private individuals, unknown Internet sellers or flea markets.

• If you find packaged Pokémon cards that are offered at a much lower price than usual, you should pay particular attention. Most of the time, these are counterfeit goods. The same applies to apparently valuable Pokémon cards that are significantly cheaper than you would expect.

• If you want to buy used Pokémon cards, it is advisable to have original cards with you for comparison. This way you can compare the types of paper and the colours of the printing.