Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Anatomy of a Fake Pokémon Card

You can sue over negative feedback? I seriously doubt that. If he attempts that he's in for one heck of a surprise when his lawyer laughs him out of the room.

Anyways, I think you probably owe him an apology and changed feedback. I had my Dragonite EX DF in front of me when I read this thread and unless mine is a fake (which I know it isn't because I pulled it from a pack oh so long ago.), I doubt yours is as well.
 
So I settled the issue with the seller. The cards did not look like those above, they didn't reflect rainbow colors. Thanks for everything though!
 
Hey, great article. I think 4 of my cards I got off ebay may be fake, can anyone tell me? I'll post scans but our printer sucks so I'll describe the cards as well.

3 of the cards are holographic gold rimmed and the other is a level x with a solid silver border(no bubble effect). The energy symbols look just like the fake ones the thread starter posted.

The cards are Drapion lv 41, Monferno lv 18, Luxio lv 19, and Torterra lv x. All from the Diamond and Pearl set.
All of the cards are holographic and Monferno and Luxio have holographic names/levels/hp as well.

Heres the link to the picture:
http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af238/XErika_x/fakeorreal.jpg


I'm pretty sure they're fake but I wanted to get a second opinion before contacting the seller.
 
The pictures are hard to see, but the borders are wrong like the Machamp in the article) and the energy symbols are bloated, as mentioned in the article.
 
Just as a question, why was this unstickied? This is quite possibly the most important article on this entire site!

Erika, those scans are a little rough, but it doesn't look good for those cards IMO.
 
Kinda random... wondering if one caught a major distributor of fake cards would someone go investigate and take legal action?

I hate fake cards because you have to ask the kids not to play them and they get so upset, so I really want to catch this major distributor of fake cards I stumbled on at a Flea market in Cali. They people who work at the flea market were stupid enough to give me enough info to know where to find the distributor and with more investigation they could be nabbed for sure. So do I still email the same people even though the situation is a lot different and I am not totally sure of the location? Should I wait till I know for sure?

Was also thinking of going to flea market and having someone ask the sellers as Looker cause it would be very funny. If I do that I am filming it and putting it on youtube.
 
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I have a few questions...

1) Is it possible for legit cards to have typos (like Hippwdon instead of Hippowdon), incorrect names (like Farren on a card with what appears to be an Eevee, or a Jolteon card that says Jolteon evolves from Reevee), etc?

2) Is it possible for there to be counterfeit collector's tins? ((I got two for Christmas that said "2020 World Championships Decks" on them and they had shrinkwrap on them like when you get them from a store.))

3) Is it possible to buy counterfeit collector's tins from normal stores?
 
1. It is virtually impossible.
There are a very few known cases where the wrong names have been used. All three of those were errors on every single copy of the card in question. So, if you have a card with a wrong/misspelled name, unless it is FRLG Hypno says evolves from Drowsee), FRLG Drowsee, or Dark Exeggcutor (an extra "c" in there), you have a fake.

2. Yes, those are fakes. The WC cards do not come in a tin. They're very good fakes though, aren't they!

3. Possible. There have been some reports of some Walmarts with fake cards, but by and large, game shops and big retailers have legitimate product. It is the flea markets and dollar stores where you will get fake merchandise a lot of the time.
 
PokePop said:
1. It is virtually impossible.
There are a very few known cases where the wrong names have been used. All three of those were errors on every single copy of the card in question. So, if you have a card with a wrong/misspelled name, unless it is FRLG Hypno says evolves from Drowsee), FRLG Drowsee, or Dark Exeggcutor (an extra "c" in there), you have a fake.

2. Yes, those are fakes. The WC cards do not come in a tin. They're very good fakes though, aren't they!

3. Possible. There have been some reports of some Walmarts with fake cards, but by and large, game shops and big retailers have legitimate product. It is the flea markets and dollar stores where you will get fake merchandise a lot of the time.
Click to expand...

Ah. I figured as much when I saw the Farren and Hippwdon (and the lack of accents on the e's in Pokemon).

Well, this stinks. My 7-year-old cousin got them for me for Christmas. He would never have been able to figure it out (especially since he's got very few classic cards to know what the real names of the Pokemon are).

If only he hadn't gotten some of the same cards I now have... I can't tell him they're fake.
 
SD PokéMom said:
would you rather he continue to waste his $ buying the fakes, if you *don't* tell him the truth?

'mom
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I rather he didn't, but my mom won't let me. --;

I'm going to tell his mom that they're fakes, but I don't have any proof besides this thread. ((I don't have any actual copies of the cards besides perhaps 'classic' versions of a couple of them.))
 
WOW..... what a great site. :thumb:
My daughter has just become aquainted with Pokemon cards and this thread has been SO helpful.
It is so easy to understand and even a beginners Mum like myself, is able to understand it!! :biggrin:
I would like to know a little about this card, my daughter recently swapped.
Is it unusual for these cards to be cut like this. To me, (from info here) it looks to be a 'good' one. :rolleyes:
Keep up the great work guys. 'blue' :smile:
30bfe6r.jpg
 
bluetonguelizard said:
WOW..... what a great site. :thumb:
My daughter has just become aquainted with Pokemon cards and this thread has been SO helpful.
It is so easy to understand and even a beginners Mum like myself, is able to understand it!! :biggrin:
I would like to know a little about this card, my daughter recently swapped.
Is it unusual for these cards to be cut like this. To me, (from info here) it looks to be a 'good' one. :rolleyes:
Keep up the great work guys. 'blue' :smile:
30bfe6r.jpg
Click to expand...

The font isn't quite right, the energy symbols are wrong, the back is too light...
I'd guess that is a fake.
(to others: You can see the URL when you quote the post.)

Edit: Whoa - Diglett is not #358, nor is it the Wind Chime Pokemon! Definitely a fake!

Beyond that, I completely missed the miscut... I don't know how that happened, but that much of another card shouldn't appear...

I'm glad the 'gym is pleasing to you! We do like it here and try to keep it very friendly and helpful. ^ ^
(as if I can claim any credit *runs from the admins*)
 
My first post and a reply so soon! :thumb:
Just read how to insert a picture, so maybe I will be better next time.
Thanks for that....so even tho it has the little accent 'thingy' above the e, its a non event!
Its hard to spot. :eek:
I think, this site will only serve to make me a more proficient fake card spotter. :biggrin:
'blue'
 
The conterfeiters seem to have started putting the accent mark on the e now.
Too bad. Makes it harded to tell.
But the energy symbols have the bloat, there are the other errors that Kayle pointed out, and the back has the issues that I described in the article, aside from being miscut.

I find that it's easiest to spot fakes from the back.
Turn all your cards over. Those that have this "paler border" look to them stand out easily against the real card backs.
 
I don't know if this is obvious or not, but On most of the fakes (at least on the back of the ones I have seen), the Border is uneven.

But Great article Pop!
 
hi there
im new to pokemon tcg and have some cards that are are 83mm high, whereas others in my collection are 86 mm high...does this mean one bunch are fakes, or were some expansion set releases smaller for some reason...?

the 83mm ones all have copyright dates of 2008, whereas my others have asstd copyright dates..

thanks for help in advance!!
 
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