How to spot a fake Pokémon card: 8 telltale signs
Counterfeits keep getting better, but they almost always give themselves away on the same points. Run through these eight checks before you buy or sell an expensive card.
Card back and colour
The back of a genuine card has a deep, slightly purplish blue with crisp detail in the Poké Ball. On fakes the blue is often too light or too bright, and the border is blurry.
Print quality and text
Genuine cards have razor-sharp text and a fine print pattern you can see with a loupe. Blurry letters, wrong fonts, spelling mistakes or an energy symbol that's not quite right are red flags. Always compare with the scan on our card page.
Weight, thickness and the light test
A genuine card weighs around 1.7 grams and has a thin black (older cards) or dark core that you can see when you look at the edge. Hold the card up to a bright lamp: a real card lets hardly any light through; a fake often does.
Holo effect and texture
The holo on a genuine card has a recognisable pattern for each era; modern full arts have a texture you can feel. A flat, uniform shine across the whole card is almost always fake.
The price
A €10 Charizard doesn't exist. Compare the listing with the sale prices on Cardmarket and TCGplayer. If the price is far below the market, the card is either fake or damaged.
Frequently asked questions
Can an app detect a fake?
TCG House compares your scan with the original scan and flags differences in print and colour; this AI authenticity check is part of Ultra. Only a physical inspection or grading gives certainty.
Are proxies and fakes the same thing?
A proxy is a copy made for playing and is sold as a copy. A counterfeit is sold as genuine — and that's a criminal offence.
What do I do if I've bought a fake card?
Contact the seller and the platform; on the TCG House marketplace your money is held until you've confirmed the card, so report it straight away.