The Pokemon Card Dealer - Your Best Place for Buying Rare and Uncommon Pokemon TCG cards and Pokemon Video Games on Auction

1. A Guide to Spotting Fake Pokemon Cards

As pokemon cards become more popular, especially with the release of a motion picture and the new Pokemon Platinum, there are more overseas companies selling fake pokemon cards through websites or auctions.  Use this guide to help spot bootleg pokemon cards.

#1.  Are you sure the picture on the card shows an actual Pokemon?  Yes, sometimes bootleggers will print a picture of a creature that isn't even a Pokemon!  Of course the best way to know is to be familiar with the Pokemon universe, and the best way to do so is to play the card game and or play the Nintendo DS games.

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#2:  Inspect the card stock.  Genuine cards are usually fairly thick and are always cut to the same size.  If you have a card that is very thin, overly thick or is incorrectly sized (hold it up to your other pokemon cards) then you likely have a fake pokemon card in your hand.  Sometimes fake pokemon cards have too much gloss on them.    Genuine pokemon cards are not overly shiny in the light so too much gloss is a tell-tale sign also.

#3  Check the Pokeball, if it's upside down, it's a fake.

#4  Look at the energy symbol on the card. Fake Pokemon cards have symbols that are blurred, larger or a slightly different color than genuine pokemon cards. 

#5:  Look at the hit points on the card.  If the HP is over 250 it's a fake.