How to Spot Counterfeit Cards: Key Checkpoints and Limitations

The more popular a card is, the more likely it is to be counterfeited. In a 2023 announcement, the official Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game website stated that unauthorized "replicas" and "metal cards" were being traded online and in stores, and that they were taking action to stop sales and pursue legal measures. The methods below are merely tools to filter out suspicion and cannot definitively confirm authenticity on their own.

First to Check: Purchase Route and Price

The Pokémon Support page warns that packs priced significantly lower than the recommended retail price are almost certainly a sign of counterfeits, and identifies flea markets as the place with the most reports of counterfeit sales. They also acknowledge that sealed packs are very difficult to distinguish by appearance alone. Ultimately, the most reliable prevention is to buy through official distribution channels.

Light Transmission and Texture

• Holding up to Light: Official support guides state that counterfeit cards often appear translucent when held up to a bright light. The difference is more apparent when compared side-by-side with a genuine card.
• Thickness and Elasticity: Counterfeits often feel flimsy like paper or have an unnaturally slippery texture.
• Tearing: It is known that genuine cards reveal a dark inner layer when torn, but since this destroys the card, it is a last resort used only on inexpensive cards.

Printing and Text

• Coloration: If the overall color is dull or the blue tones are blurry, it is suspicious. Compare the color of the back side-by-side with a genuine card.
• Font and Kerning: Irregular spacing between letters or different typefaces are warning signs. Spelling errors, such as the missing accent in "Pokémon," are also common clues.
• Symbols and Values: If the size or alignment of energy symbols is off, or if HP and damage values are unrealistic, cross-check them with the official card database.
• Holo Effects and Size: Genuine holographic cards reflect light according to the surface texture, whereas counterfeits may simply print the pattern flat. Being slightly smaller in size is also a common characteristic.
• Sticker-type Counterfeits: Some counterfeits are made as stickers rather than cards. Be suspicious if the holo pattern differs from the original or if the surface feels lifted.
• Packaging: Counterfeit boxes may have incorrect logos or misaligned designs. Compare them with product images on the official website.

Graded Cards and Expert Verification

For graded cards in cases, look up the certification number on the respective grader's official website to see if it matches the card information. PSA explicitly states that they do not assign grades to cards whose authenticity is in doubt. If it is difficult to judge for yourself, another option is to request verification from a specialty store knowledgeable about cards, as recommended by official support.

---

Sources

• ポケモンカードゲーム公式 · 偽造品に関する注意事項について (2023-09-19)
• Pokémon Support · Did I purchase fake or counterfeit cards? (2026-05-26)
• JustInBasil · How to Identify Fake Pokémon Cards (Accessed 2026-09-14)
• PSA · Grading Standards (Accessed 2026-09-14)