Q&A for How to Know If Pokémon Cards Are Fake

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  • Question
    Is there someone who can authenticate Pokemon cards online? Can I send them pictures and details of my cards and have them authenticated by someone credible?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Pokemon company will happily authenticate a card. If it is fake, they will send you a copy of the real one with a booster code for Pokemon tcg.
  • Question
    I made my own cards on a Pokemon card maker site. Is it okay if we play with just those cards, following normal Pokemon rules?
    Shadow_wolf_52
    Community Answer
    If you are battling competitively or trying to sell them, that is a big no-no. But if you make it clear with your opponent that the cards are fake and this is for fun, you might be okay. If you are using fake cards with some friends in a group, it's totally fine.
  • Question
    Where do they sell fake cards?
    Community Answer
    Trading websites such as eBay, Amazon, or Craigslist are more likely to sell fake cards than a brick and mortar store. You should also be careful when trading cards with someone, especially if a trade seems too good to be true.
  • Question
    How can I tell if I buy in the internet, that the cards I get aren't fake?
    Community Answer
    It's pretty hard to tell. With some, like eBay, some people use fake photos instead of the real thing to mislead you into buying it. At a first glance, it might seem legit, but the cards you actually get might not be. If you do buy cards off the internet, check the seller's reputation, if the site has that. If they have high reputation, there's less chance of it being fake. If they have low reputation, don't bother.
  • Question
    How can you tell if a "full art" card is fake?
    Community Answer
    Traditionally, full art cards usually have a brown or rust-colored border. If it is yellow, it is likely a fake.
  • Question
    Why are fake cards such a problem?
    Community Answer
    When people go to a trusted store that sells Pokemon cards, they expect their money's worth in real cards, which can be resold and used in tournaments. If a fake card package is on the shelves at stores the consumer wasted their money on non-usable fake cards.
  • Question
    How do I know if the ex Pokemon card is real?
    Community Answer
    Sometimes the colors on the back of a fake Pokemon card are a bit lighter than the real cards. Also, fake Pokemon cards have stats that don't seem realistic. It is also thinner and easier to bend.
  • Question
    Is my Pokemon card fake if it does not have an equal cut?
    Community Answer
    Probably. Most fake cards have cheap edges around the cards and often arrive to the consumer with worn or bent edges.
  • Question
    Do people still sell fake Pokemon cards today?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they do. There are still Pokemon card collectors today, and there are still occasional scammers trying to take advantage of them.
  • Question
    i have a feeling that Timburr is fake because it looks very cartoony. Is it?
    Community Answer
    Timburr is in fact a real Pokemon. You can easily find a picture of the Timburr card online to compare to the artwork on your card. Almost all fake cards do have the correct artwork, though, so follow the instructions in this article just in case.
  • Question
    A few of my Pokemon cards have shiny borders. Does that necessarily mean that all of my cards are fake?
    The Critical Master
    Community Answer
    Not necessarily. Very rare cards have shiny borders, while some can be dodgy, so watch out!
  • Question
    What do I do with fake Pokemon cards?
    Imejeff
    Community Answer
    You can just thrown them away, through some people like to keep them (separate from their real cards).
  • Question
    Should I buy Pokemon cards online or is it safer to buy them from a store?
    Community Answer
    It is safer to buy them from a store, as in the store you can actually see the card and you can inspect/compare it with other cards, while if you buy it online people may put a picture of a real card while giving you a fake one.
  • Question
    Can you use a fake card for a real battle?
    Community Answer
    No. If you use it, it could be unfair to the other battler because of how much HP or attack damage it has.
  • Question
    How can I tell if an EX card is real?
    Community Answer
    Look at the EX at the top of the card. Is is plain yellow? If it is the card is fake. If the EX is golden and shiny then it's likely not fake. Also If the card doesn't shine rainbow or golden color when reflected in the light, then it's likely fake.
  • Question
    Is Game Stop a trusted dealer?
    ThatLeafCanGame
    Community Answer
    Yes and no. Some Game Stops do sell real Pokemon cards, but some don't. I bought 2 booster decks and they were real and got 2 booster decks in a different Game Stop and they weren't real.
  • Question
    If the Pokemon word on the back is upside down is it fake?
    Community Answer
    The word Pokemon appears twice, once right-side-up at the top of the card (above the red side of the Pokeball), and once upside-down at the bottom of the card (below the white side of the Pokeball).
  • Question
    If the damage is over 250, is it fake?
    Community Answer
    Some cards (such as a Rayquaza EX or "Super Charizard") can do more than 250 damage with one attack, but if the cost of the attack is very low energy and the HP of the card is very high, the card is either real but illegal to use in duels, or fake.
  • Question
    What if the card's back has a slightly uneven blue side?
    Community Answer
    It might be fake, but inspect the rest of the card using all of the steps above.
  • Question
    Can I still use fake cards in battles?
    Bun bun
    Top Answerer
    Not in tournaments, but you can among friends.
  • Question
    Is Beldum a fake Pokemon card? Because it looks fake.
    Gracekitten
    Community Answer
    Beldum is a real Pokémon, so the card might be real. Follow the steps in the article to check if it's real.
  • Question
    How do I know if the tin is authentic?
    Community Answer
    Real Pokemon tins usually have a metal covering on them, and on the edges as well. If the tin is fake, it has a cardboard covering to it.
  • Question
    If it's too light, is it fake?
    Prokop Tomka
    Community Answer
    Yes. Fake cards are made out of thin, single layer paper.
  • Question
    If the Pokedex entry is smudged, is it fake?
    Community Answer
    Not necessarily; the issue might just be a printing error. Try to check any blogs about identifying fake cards if you want to be absolutely sure.
  • Question
    Are all Pokemon cards supposed to have the illustrator's name on the bottom left corner?
    Bun bun
    Top Answerer
    Yes.
  • Question
    Where in the UK can I go to check if a card is fake?
    Community Answer
    You can go to a comic book shop. You could also search pictures of fake cards and compare them to what you have.
  • Question
    I bought my first GX card, but it feels a bit like plastic. Is this normal? It is really smooth.
    Community Answer
    Yes, this is normal. EX and GX cards can sometimes be smoother than other cards.
  • Question
    Why are there some many different ways to check if it is real?
    Shadow_wolf_52
    Community Answer
    Pokemon cards are detailed and unique, and there are many parts and aspects to them which can be faked, so close inspection in different ways is essential.
  • Question
    Can Dragonite have an attack that requires five energy?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it can.
  • Question
    I got a legendary Pokemon card, but it's fake. What do I do with it?
    Community Answer
    Whatever you want. You can throw it away, or you can keep it if you like it - just don't use it in Pokemon card games and don't tell people that it's real.
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