Written by Liam Bosecke
Introduction
This article is intended to provide general information on spotting fake TCG products across multiple games for the average collector and player. I'm by no means an expert in this field, but I have learned a lot since almost being scammed out of a large amount of money for fake Magic the Gathering cards.
I will give a simple step by step process that you can follow when dealing in and evaluating whether a card is indeed real if the source isn't trusted. My first piece of advice is to only buy from trusted sources, whether that be your local game store or a friend. You know then that what you're buying is indeed real. Failing that, at least agree to meet at a local game store that can provide expert advice on whether a card is genuine or not. A trusted seller should always agree to meet at a place such as this.
My basic tools
The Problem with These Articles
An issue that comes from airing the faults in current counterfeit cards is that scammers will find new ways to overcome these faults and make even more convincing counterfeits. This article contains information that is readily available online and is a collection of the most useful tips that a general consumer can use themselves. If you use these tips, you should be able to overcome many basic scams that could easily be avoided.
1. Spot the Difference
The first thing you should do if you are buying from an untrusted source is bring a reference card with you. A reference card can be a card that was printed in the same time frame, the same set or even the same card that you may have borrowed from a friend or trusted source.
Compare the two cards side by side without any visual aides. Can you spot any differences or faults? You should have a strong understanding of the items you intend to buy so you can easily spot faults.
For example: Is the font of the cards consistent? Is the colouring the same on both? Are there any spelling mistakes?
On many fake Pokemon cards, simple faults such as these may be apparent and it can be useful to know what to look for.
Image courtesy of WikiHow
Popular japanese card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon have an extensive amount of counterfeits in circulation. A great WikiHow article shows you what to look for with Yu-Gi-Oh as there are countless visual faults in many fakes that can be spotted without the use of a visual aid.
Font
Image courtesy of Lorcana TCG Community Group
The above image is an example of how sophisticated and fast counterfeiters can work. This card is a D23 promo of the upcoming Lorcana TCG which hasn't released officially yet. There are a few other faults in the fake card above that aren't circled. See if you can spot them.
Countless other games have the same errors as the font and kerning is surprisingly hard to replicate. Font is an easy way to look for an inconsistency alongside a reference card.
Off-Colouring
This image is courtesy of Verified.org
The cardback is usually the best way to tell a real from a fake as it is a simple and consistent visual cue. The above example from Verified.org shows how some counterfeits will have inconsistent colouring, this is usually one of the first things you should check and can be a dead giveaway of something suspicious.
Image courtesy of Linford Hulin-Bobart
Here is an example of high end Flesh and Blood TCG cards being counterfeited that are in circulation. Without a visual aid, it can be hard to spot the differences in these cards as Linford pointed out in this Facebook post.
Holographic Effect
Image courtesy of TCGPlayer
Some cards don't come in holographic or vice versa. The above image from TCGPlayer shows how this particular card ONLY comes in Holo. See if you can spot the other inconsistencies in the cards. Some cards also have inconsistent holographic patterns that don't appear anywhere else or are of low quality. As always, know what you are buying.
Spelling Mistakes
Fake card image courtesy of TCGPlayer
Reading the card is something you will hear time and time again, this time is no different either. Something as simple as a spelling mistake can be present on a counterfeit trading card and is something to keep an eye out for in any game.
2. Rosette Pattern
A great way to get a better look at a card is getting in much closer. A simple and cheap visual aid to buy is a 'Loupe Magnifier' with atleast a 10x magnification minimum. These can easily be bought for around $15.
High Quality Loupe Magnifier on Amazon
The rosette pattern of a card are the coloured dots that overlap to form different colours when printed. Looking and comparing these can be a great way to distinguish real from fake.
This image is courtesy of Ace Grading
The above example is a great visualization from Ace Grading of a Pokemon card comparison and how the rosette can differ when cards use different printing techniques and different printers. This is why when you bring your reference card, it should be a card from the same era or set as they will be using the same techniques and equipment to print.
This image is courtesy of Reddit user loglow_
This example is a classic technique for Magic the Gathering. This green dot is located on the back of all MTG cards and can be a great reference point when using a visual aid.
Image courtesy of Brandon Hawkes
The above image is a magnified Flesh and Blood TCG card and is a good example of the differences in printing patterns. Can you guess which one should be real?
The answer is always the one with the distinguished black lines and lettering. the image on the right is printed all on one layer as opposed to multiple layers on the left.
Black Ink
When inspecting the rosette pattern, another thing to look for is the black ink on MTG cards. The printing process for MTG put the text and mana symbols on last over the other colours. The black will always be a true black in a real card whereas on a counterfeit it may contain noise and distortion, caused by printing the card all on one layer.
Image courtesy of Magic Judges
This may not be true for other card games or certain sets printed in MTG. So it is good to be knowledgable of what you're buying and be ready for dishonesty. Under magnification a clean black line should be present.
3. Light Test
This test isn't as reliable as it once was in my opinion as it also depends on the kind of light you have available. For many MTG cards though this may be a good test to try as it is easy to administer.
Image courtesy of mtginformation.com
The above image demonstrates how MTG cards have an inner blue core that sits between the front and the back layers. A counterfeit card may not be as transparent as a real MTG card. Keep in mind that there are counterfeits that do have an inner blue core so this isn't a full proof test (as with any test). It is simply a tool that you can implement in your arsenal.
4. Weight Test
This test is best for telling whether a card has been rebacked, which is a particular method of counterfeiting in MTG. A real MTG card, as stated in the great article by Three For one Trading, should be between 1.7 and 1.8 grams.
Image courtesy of Three For One Trading
Counterfeiters may use a technique called 'Rebacking'. this is where the front of one card and the back of another legitimate card are stuck together after having being sanded down.
This technique is used on non-playable versions of high value playable cards to make them pass as playable and 'legitimate'. This technique may be worth trying with your reference card from any other TCG just incase the card thickness and stock is different and inconsistent.
5. Bend Test
This is a last resort test and should NOT be used on cards of significant value due to risk of damage. Real TCG cards are made of high quality materials and shouldn't bend or crease easily. This can't be said for any TCG card as a blanket rule, but can be said for Pokemon and MTG.
Video courtesy of Mavin
The above video demonstrates how to perform the test and shows that the test will not incure visible damage to the card if it is legitimate whereas most fakes will fail. This test is a last resort and should be avoided at all costs in my opinion.
6. Know Your Cards
Above all else, the real message to come out of this article is to understand what it is you're buying and dealing in. Look for these inconsistencies yourself and study your own collectibles to become accustomed to the print quality and patterns if this is an area of interest for you. Only deal with people you can trust or people that have references for past deals. This simple thing will help you avoid much hassle.
I'll end this article on one final note.
If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
