How to Spot Fake Pokemon Cards

Last updated 2026-08-30

Pokemon is the most counterfeited trading card game there is, because it has the most players and the highest prices. Here is what you can check yourself.

Light test. A genuine card has a black foil layer sandwiched between two paper layers, so shining a light behind it does not pass through. If light comes through clearly, it is very likely fake.

Print sharpness. Zoom in on the smallest text on the card, such as the copyright line along the bottom edge. On a real card every character is crisp and legible; fakes blur or bleed.

Colour and saturation. Counterfeits usually run either oversaturated or washed out. Comparing against the same card in a catalog you trust makes it obvious.

Texture and edges. Genuine cards are cut cleanly and evenly and have a fine surface texture. Too slick to the touch, or rough edges, is a warning.

Specific to Thai cards: check that the set code in the bottom corner is a set that actually exists, such as MA1 through MA5 or the SV sets. Many fakes carry codes that were never printed, or use Japanese set artwork under a Thai code.

The tell that catches the most fakes is still the price. If a card with a market price in the tens of thousands is offered for a few thousand, that is a warning rather than luck. That is why knowing the going rate is the best counterfeit defence there is. Every card page on Cardstreet shows the current market price, and buying through the platform means the seller is identity-verified with buyer protection on the order.

Check a live market price for every card named in this guide, free and without an account.

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