Collector guide

How to spot a fake trading card

Most fakes fail a few simple checks. None of these needs special tools, and none of them damages the card.

1. Compare it with a card you know is real

Put it next to a real card from the same set, or a clear photo of one. Look at the font, the spacing of the text, the colors and the symbols. Fakes often get small things wrong: a slightly different font, letters that sit too close together, or colors that look washed out or too dark.

2. Check the back

The back is printed the same way on every real card in a game, so it's easy to compare. Off colors, a blurry pattern or a border that's a different width are red flags.

3. Look closely at the print

Under a magnifier or your phone's camera zoom, real cards show a fine, even dot pattern. Fakes are often blurry, pixelated or show a different pattern, especially in small text.

4. Feel the card stock

Real cards have a familiar stiffness and finish. Fakes are often thinner, flimsier, extra glossy or have a waxy feel. Compare against a real common from the same game.

5. Watch the holo and texture

Holo and textured cards have a specific pattern for each set. A flat, generic rainbow shine, or texture you can't feel when it should be there, is a warning sign.

6. For graded cards, check the cert

Type the certification number into the grading company's own website and make sure the card, year, set and grade match the label. See How to verify a graded card.

7. Be careful when the price is too good

A rare card far below what it normally sells for, sold with stock photos, is the classic setup. Ask for photos of the actual card, front and back.

Every card in this shop is listed with real photos of the exact card, and graded cards link to their cert.