Guides to spotting fake Pokémon cards
Everything we've learned building an automated card checker, written up so you can do the checks yourself. New guides are added regularly.
How to Tell if a Pokémon Card Is Fake: The 8 Checks That Actually Work
Back texture, typography, holo pattern, copyright line and more — every check collectors use, ranked by reliability.
Read the guide →The Pokémon Card Light Test: How It Works, and When It Lies to You
The most famous DIY check, done properly — plus the failure cases nobody tells you about.
Read the guide →Real vs Fake Pokémon Card Backs: The Texture Tell
The back of the card is where counterfeits go to die: the canvas texture, the three mistakes fakes make, and how to photograph it.
Read the guide →I Thought My Pokémon Packs Were Fake: What I Checked (A True Story)
Two kiosk packs, pulls that were too good, and a night of spiraling — everything I checked, including the wrapper tells almost nobody covers.
Read the guide →Is Grading Worth It? PSA/CGC vs a Quick Authenticity Check
Grading costs $15–50 a card and takes months; a quick check is free and takes 30 seconds. When each is the right call, and the order to use them in.
Read the guide →How to Spot Fake Pokémon Cards on eBay (Before You Buy)
You can't hold the card, so you read the listing instead — price, photos, wording, seller — and check the seller's own photos before you bid.
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