How to tell if Pokémon cards are fake: 12 checks, safest first
Fake Pokémon cards range from obvious toys to copies that pass a quick look. The good news is that most fail simple checks you can do at the kitchen table with a genuine card beside them. Here are 12 checks, ordered from the ones that cannot hurt a card to the one that destroys it, plus how to deal with fake slabs, resealed packs and a seller who sold you a fake.
In short
Put the card next to a genuine one from the same set and check the text, accents, numbers, set symbol, borders, colour, the blue on the back, the surface feel and the size. Most fakes fail several of these. For slabs, check the cert number at psacard.com/cert and make sure every detail matches, and if you were sold a fake, open an eBay or PayPal claim quickly and report it to Scamwatch.
Checklist
12 checks, from no-risk to destructive
Work down the list and stop when you have your answer. Checks 1 to 11 do not harm the card. Check 12 ends with a test that destroys it.
- 1
Where and how cheaply is it sold?
A price far below recent sold prices, a brand-new seller account, or pressure to pay fast are the first warning signs. Scamwatch lists prices far below normal and time pressure as common signs of a buying scam.
- 2
Compare with a known genuine card
Put it next to a real card from the same set, or an official image of the same card. Most fakes show up within seconds when you have a genuine reference beside them.
- 3
Spelling, accents and fonts
Look for typos, wrong punctuation, a missing accent on the é in Pokémon, and fonts that look slightly too thick, thin or blurry, especially in small text.
- 4
HP, attacks and stage
Check the HP, attack names, damage, weakness and evolution stage against the genuine card. Fakes often get a number wrong or pair the wrong stage with a Pokémon.
- 5
Set symbol, card number and rarity mark
The set symbol, collector number and rarity mark should match the real card exactly. A number that does not exist in the set is an instant fail.
- 6
Energy symbols and layout
Energy and weakness symbols should be the right size and centred. Misaligned boxes, text that runs out of its area and art that sits in the wrong place are common faults.
- 7
Borders and cutting
Genuine cards can be slightly off-centre, but very thick, uneven or rough borders are a warning sign.
- 8
Colour and print sharpness
Compare the artwork's colour and saturation. Fakes are often too dark, too washed out or blurry, and holo patterns may not match the card type.
- 9
The back
Compare the shade of blue around the Poké Ball. On many fakes it looks lighter or more washed out than a genuine back.
- 10
Finish and texture
Genuine cards usually have a smooth, fairly matte feel. Many fakes feel glossy or plasticky, and textured cards (such as many full arts) are rarely copied well.
- 11
Size
Genuine Pokémon cards measure 63 x 88 mm. Measure carefully against a genuine card; a fake can be close but not exact.
- 12
Light test, and the rip test as a last resort
Shining a phone torch through a card and comparing it with a genuine one is non-destructive but inconclusive, because modern fakes and holo layers vary. The rip test (tearing a card to look for an inner dark layer) destroys the card. Only use it on a card you have already decided is worthless.
Weighing single cards is often suggested too, but genuine cards weigh only about 2 grams and modern fakes can match that, so a scale rarely settles it. A cheap jeweller's loupe helps with checks 3, 5 and 8.
Graded cards
Fake slabs and the PSA cert lookup
Fake grading cases exist because a slab can multiply a card's price. A real-looking case can hold a fake card, or a genuine low-value card can sit behind a label copied from a valuable one.
- Look up the cert number on PSA's cert verification page. The card name, year, set, card number and grade in PSA's record should match the label and the card exactly.
- Do not stop at a match. Counterfeiters copy real cert numbers. If PSA's record has images, compare them with the card in the case, including centring and any marks.
- Search the cert number online. The same number in several listings at once is a red flag.
- Inspect the case and label. Compare fonts, label colour, print quality and the fit of the case with a slab you know is genuine. Cracks, glue or gaps can mean a case has been opened.
- Check the card itself using the 12 checks above, through the case.
Other graders run their own lookups on their own websites. Use only the grader's official site, typed in yourself, not a link sent by a seller.
Sealed product
Resealed and weighed packs
| Problem | What it is | How to protect yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Resealed packs | A pack opened, emptied of its best card, then glued or heat-sealed again. | Look for bubbles, stretch or burn marks near the seal, and crimps that differ from a known factory pack. Cardmarket notes fakes often show these. |
| Weighed packs | Someone weighs loose packs and keeps the heavier ones, on the idea that a pack with a foil hit can weigh slightly more, then sells on the rest. | Be wary of single loose packs from unknown sellers. Buy from retailers or sealed boxes. |
| Fake boxes and tins | Counterfeit sealed products made to look like real releases. | Check the plastic wrap, the copyright line and the product name against the official release. Confirm the product actually exists. |
Promo cards, including McDonald's
Cheap promos are easy to copy because buyers rarely check them closely. For the 2026 McDonald's set, Pokemon.com's US announcement lists 15 cards numbered M26_EN_1 to M26_EN_15, seven of them foil. That gives you quick checks:
- The number format should match exactly, and no number should be above 15.
- Compare text, the foil pattern and the back with a card you got from a Happy Meal yourself.
- A "complete set" offered online well before most people could have collected one deserves extra care.
More on this set in our McDonald's Pokémon cards 2026 guide.
Where fakes turn up in Australia
Fakes can turn up anywhere cards are sold second hand. Take extra care with:
- Online marketplaces and social media, especially very cheap "bulk lots" of rare-looking cards and new accounts selling chase cards below market.
- Markets, toy fairs and pop-up stalls selling unfamiliar packs or tins.
- Cheap online stores with no ABN, terms or contact details, which Scamwatch flags as a warning sign.
- Sealed product well below retail, at a time when real stock is hard to find.
eBay's counterfeit policy says unauthorised reprints of trading cards are not allowed, so you can report fake listings there.
If it happened to you
What to do if you bought a fake
| How you paid | What to do | Time limit we found |
|---|---|---|
| eBay checkout | Request a return as "not as described". eBay treats strongly suspected counterfeits as not matching the listing, and you may not need to send the item back. | 30 days from delivery (or the seller's longer return window) |
| PayPal goods and services | Open a dispute for "significantly not as described". | 180 days from payment, as reported by CHOICE |
| PayPal friends and family | Not covered by Buyer Protection, per CHOICE. Contact PayPal and your bank anyway. | Act immediately |
| Card or bank transfer | Call your bank or card provider straight away and ask about stopping the payment or a chargeback. | Ask your bank |
| Cash | Keep the messages and ad, ask the seller for a refund, and report it. | None |
In every case: keep screenshots of the listing and messages, photograph the card next to a genuine one, stop contact if you are pressured, and report the scam to Scamwatch. If you shared personal or banking details, IDCARE (1800 595 160) can help you lock things down.
FAQ
Questions Australians ask
How can you tell if a Pokémon card is fake without ripping it?
Compare it side by side with a genuine card from the same set, then check spelling and the accent on Pokémon, HP and attack numbers, the set symbol and card number, borders, colour, the shade of blue on the back, the surface finish and the size (63 x 88 mm). Most fakes fail several of these before you get near a destructive test.
Do fake Pokémon cards light up?
Shining a torch through a card is a popular test: fakes may let through more or less light than a genuine card. It is not reliable on its own, because modern fakes have improved and genuine holo cards vary. Use it only alongside the visual checks, and always compare with a genuine card of the same type.
Are there fake McDonald's Pokémon cards?
Any cheap promo can be copied, so check them like any other card. The 2026 McDonald's set has 15 cards numbered M26_EN_1 to M26_EN_15 according to Pokemon.com, so a card with a different number format or a number above 15 is a red flag. Compare text, foil pattern and the back with a card from a Happy Meal.
How do I check a PSA slab is real?
Enter the certification number from the label at psacard.com/cert and check that the card, year, set and grade match the slab exactly. A matching number is not proof on its own, because fakers copy real numbers, so also check the label printing, the case and the card itself, and be wary of the same cert number in more than one listing.
What do I do if I bought fake cards?
Stop contact if the seller is pressuring you, keep every message and photo, and open a claim straight away. On eBay, a strongly suspected counterfeit is treated as not matching the listing under the Money Back Guarantee, and you generally have 30 days from delivery. For PayPal goods and services payments, CHOICE reports a 180-day claim window. Then report it to Scamwatch.
Can a fake Pokémon card be graded?
Authenticating the card is part of what a grading company does, so a card it judges to be counterfeit should not come back with a normal grade. That is one reason a genuine slab from a major grader adds buyer confidence, provided the slab itself is real.
Are resealed booster packs common?
Resealing is a known risk with loose packs bought second hand, because someone can open a pack, remove the hit and reseal it. Buy loose packs from retailers or trusted sellers, and check the wrapper for bubbles, stretch marks, burn marks or a crimp that looks different from a pack you know is factory sealed.
Sources
- Fake Pokémon cards: how to spot them, Wargamer (updated 31 Jan 2025) (checked 2026-11-15)
- Spotting a counterfeit, Cardmarket help centre (checked 2026-11-15)
- PSA certification verification, PSA (checked 2026-11-15)
- Pokémon Happy Meals return to McDonald's in the US, The Pokémon Company (checked 2026-11-15)
- eBay Money Back Guarantee policy, eBay Australia (updated 19 Aug 2026) (checked 2026-11-15)
- Counterfeit item policy, eBay Australia (checked 2026-11-15)
- How to use PayPal Buyer Protection, CHOICE (checked 2026-11-15)
- Buying and selling scams, Scamwatch (ACCC) (checked 2026-11-15)
- Report a scam, Scamwatch (ACCC) (checked 2026-11-15)