How To Spot & Avoid Fake Graded Pokemon Cards

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Today we're looking at the recent wave of fake pokemon cards that are hitting the hobby. And we may be reaching a point where even the best collectors can still get fooled! Here is how you can spot fake graded pokemon cards.
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[@MTGUnpacked]

Damn, that's scary! I think the fake would fool most people on eBay or FB photos, especially if they're charging an expected price🤯

[@UltraFoil]

Honestly even after watching the video I find it hard to tell the difference. Another factor is that PSA have had many small changes to their slabs over the years, so even 2 genuine slabs can look wildly different.

[@Poke-phish]

That’s why you should pull up the PSA website, enter the serial number and compare the website images.

[@hieinh]

PSA slabs haven't changed in years.

[@JoJoJosiah]

This is insanely similar. I would've never known

[@TimRoed]

I wonder if eBay's authentication process would catch these fakes

[@jayveesoriano9963]

As far as I know, PSA themselves does the authentication process for Ebay. So it should not be a problem for them to spot fakes like these.

[@NWfishin]

Last I heard CGC does the authentication

[@jerrychen9643]

Yes , eBay will send the card to CGC

[@user-hw9cw2cx8u]

@@jayveesoriano9963 so how does the Guarantee of Authenticity protect you from counterfeiting?

[@Charizardcollector92]

Is eBay sure??

[@Youtubefan567]

Thanks for sharing and bringing awareness of this to everyone. I wish more KZbinrs mention when buying slabs it doesn't guarantee it's not fake as the slab itself can be faked.

[@srrfounder1]

This is why I'm staying away from slabs, Jake, I don't know ENOUGH as a new collector, THANK YOU!!!!

[@Youtubefan567]

Yeah I'm not a new collector as I collect singles but I don't have any graded cards for reasons like this.

[@xloclxdioib7052]

For new collector, yes you have a hard time to identify fake slabs. But for those slabs collector, this is easy to spot.

[@avenger1212]

Shouldn't have to be that way for you.

[@srrfounder1]

@@avenger1212 I agree! 💚

[@brentlorbiecki9092]

Why is this a reason to not buy slabs, the singles can be faked even easier

[@Dwellic]

I hate how this is a thing. Makes me worry for the non graded market.

[@Poke-phish]

Have you tried shining a black light on the fake and real PSA slab? I believe there is some reactive ink that should appear legit cards.

[@TuanNguyen-bd8cw]

pulling up the scan of the fake card vs the real card using the psa number you can visibly tell that the fake card is indeed fake, since the corners are all jacked up vs the scan. Whic his pretty much mint.

[@flex9051]

Its gonna get to the point where the fake is indistinguishable from the real deal. At that point fake cards are going to be real if not even PSA can disprove it. Sad future for collectors.

[@dawnpokemontrainer]

Thanks, Jake! I wonder if the QR Code on the fake slab would scan to PSA. I couldn't get it to, but my phone was able to scan to PSA for the real one. These are getting scary real.

[@faizal1026]

Thank you for the informative details!It's helpful:)

[@dannymon902]

have you tried using a black light on the fake lable? the real ones suppose to have PSA in the background of the front and back of the lable

[@avenger1212]

Even if so, you couldn't do this with an ebay or online auction, which is where most people will buy these.

[@FreePalestine718]

To be honest I had a hard time identifying the real vs fake

[@josebanuelos8822]

Finally ive been waiting for this because ive never owned a psa slab and im looking to purchase one as a my first but with no history of owning one i have to put 100% trust on the seller.

[@EricRare]

Wild that they can get that level of texturing on the card but still get the label wrong lol

[@Kirito14682]

I wouldn't even trust ones with correct labels anymore because they can just get a psa10 cert crack it open and resubmit to get multiple certs of psa 10. So you have to compare it to a real slab now.

[@avenger1212]

I own that pikachu master battle set card. I got them back when they first came out and when they weren't even remotely as valuable and collectable as they are today. I can see the issues when you move it about, but if you had that in an ebay auction as a static image, with only moderately good images, you could dismiss a lot of the problems unless you're being exceptionally careful. These are impressively good, and could do a lot of damage to the hobby. It's really sad. Technology being what it is today, they should be able to do more at PSA to compete with these cons. They could do holographics that can't be reproduced, or use exotic inks that only show under blacklight. Print the PSA number into these. Do an embossed stamp into the label. Put a chip or rfid into it that generates a random number that matches an archive record, and then when scanned using a PSA app or reader it will validate the card. Anything that is difficult and costly to replicate.

[@nickwu3679]

think about the ungrade market😢 I am scared

[@therollingwheelz]

i just about to ask PSA logo on corner...then you showed it....damn they so good!!! i hope pokemon youtuber always update about lates fake so people know.

[@nickchamp]

I wonder if PSA has reference cards for each card they grade? How many fake cards are in real slabs? I'm sure there's gotta be a few.

[@zn74]

You go far and beyond to acquire a PSA10 card just to find out its fake as if collecting cardboard wasn't hard already with weather, temperature and other factors that could possibly ruin your collection we have to deal with this problem too.

[@JediMasterT]

The problem is if your deep in the hobby you can see it relatively easy. That being said, I would say most people aren't trying to put this much work into not buying fakes...that's one of the reasons PSA exists so they don't have to worry about fakes ( as a consumer ). We all know that's not true, so thanks again for keeping this Public service announcement alive for the newer collectors.

[@DarkTruth1]

Is relatively easy for now. We are about see and experience leaps and bounds of technological advancements that will make it even closer to the original. So my question is what, then? The hobby dies? This isnt a matter of IF, its a matter of WHEN? And that is soon. It would be silly to argue that it can't be done, it can and will be done if there's money to be made.

[@JediMasterT]

@@DarkTruth1 I disagree, this technology you’re talking about is more of a barrier to entry than it is a useful tool for fakers. If you think that people are so good at printing fakes that they are now considered real cards then what I imagine will happen is if the pokemon company does nothing which I doubt it they want their IP for themselves but assuming they did nothing. The fake printing companies would probably only print bangers and no cards would be expensive anymore.

[@avenger1212]

@@DarkTruth1 This issue has existed in WWII military collectibles for a long time. People just use their best knowledge, and have support forums and groups where others can vet the item before purchase, so they can get opinions before buying. The hobby goes on, but is littered with landmines. You do as much diligence as you can and cross your fingers.

[@Ragnar199]

I’m new to collecting and I noticed strait away the font could see strait away the blurry and the card colouring I’d only ever buy from smiths,Argos Pokemon center and places like tht as I dnt trust people I do want to buy some psa graded cards but I’ll get them from KZbinr Pokemon people then I no there legit

[@JW-nl1pv]

I feel like I should be shocked about counterfeit PSA cards but I'm not, even still I'll be sure to be extra careful when buying any slabs in the future. Good video 👍

[@EmotionalPanther]

If you were at a card show and it was crowded this would easily get someone. And I have seen some of the fake pikachu grey felt they are just as good.

[@HandheldGamer1991]

That cards is so yeasy to fake givem that it has no texture

[@rikuchan]

wait so... besides the font on the slab, what else is the difference on the card itself on the outbreak pikachu? Like, I can spot the difference on the other card with the holo (especially with the real one next to it), but since the outbreak doesn't have any holo/texture, how else will someone be able to tell the difference out in the wild if there were no slab to base the authenticity?

[@hieinh]

The quality isn't great but I'm guess the fake doesn't have the ink or psa written on the bottom of the slab

[@rikuchan]

@@hieinh thanks lol but I was actually asking about the card itself if it didn't have the slab ^^; but thank you for more input regarding the slab!

[@kenneth1523]

Hi Jake. Did the fakes have the PSA UV logos?

[@Mattyseee]

I wondered the same thing.

[@kenneth1523]

@@Mattyseee First thing I checked when I bought a PSA 10 Team Up Latias and Latios Alt Art.

[@anthonylucdouzet7201]

Yes they have

[@Barnyholmes]

I wonder how many fake 1st edition Zard slabs there are out there!

[@ricp3352]

At the two pikachu slabs II had to stop and think. The red border on the label on the fake slab is actually way more evenly proportional. The real slabs red border is really fat on the top line and sloppily uneven on every side. Idk much about psa so i dunno if there is a reason for that.

[@keyframeclips]

I noticed the colors right away, I haven’t really looked at enough slabs to notice the label font. Definitely would be difficult to tell without a real one to reference though.

[@supertoadmods]

This is super helpful! Thank you!

[@LeoLikesLamb]

Your videos butter My biscuits thank you

[@WhimsiGPlayas]

I don't think there's any other choice at this point, PSA is going to have to change their traditional label sticker. It's just too easy to mimic it at this point. I could probably tell if I had the slab in direct eyesight but as a photo on ebay or just looking at them from this video you can get confused and unsure.

[@JordanCastelli]

Hi Jake, does TCG ship to Canada? Or is it strictly just USA?

[@bboycyl]

I still can't tell even after watching this video. I don't know if my PSA cards i bought are real or fake.

[@slycooper7541]

wow its so close i know i would have fell for it

[@konastuff603]

The rear q/r code. There are 3 small squares in the corners. The fake is 2 top corners and and bottom left as the real one has both bottom and top right.

[@kawhiiee]

This sucks. I just started collecting again because of the nostalgia. I just compared some PSA 10 slabs i bought and thank god it is the real thing! Just bought some more on ebay and I hope they will be real!

[@MT-yx7vw]

Great vid👏🏼🔥

[@Reds-Card-Case]

This would totally pass to alot of people. If they would have copied an older cert number, like in the 3s or 4s, most people wont have a similiarly aged slab from that era laying around to compare side by side and they could use the old cert style to justify the diffrences they might have noticed.

[@14lamnc1]

I feel as though the label method is a bit inaccurate. I have cards that I know are real since I graded them at PSA myself over different times (2xxxxxx certs vs 5xxxxxx certs) and their fonts they use are slightly thicker/thinner so they’re quite inconsistent at PSA.

[@dr.poke0079]

Can the fake copy the black light PSA label?

[@madebyrobbycee]

would be hard to tell if you can't compare it side by side.

[@Manking1337]

Honestly I do not think that I would be able to identify this fake. I do not have any slaps myself so I am lacking the experience but those fakes looke really well done!

[@slayerzerg]

you're surprised they didn't get the reflective lighthouse psa label correct?! it's proprietary that's going to be the only thing they can't copy it cost a lot to get that made for psa lol

[@MDRswisha]

The Fake’s QPR code does not work. I took a screen shot on the video and the real one pulls up, the fake no response. You can do this with any PSA card posted online. Look at the picture of the back of the slab, zoom in, grab a second phone and see if it pulls it up. If it won’t, tread with caution, definitely ask for a clear picture of the QPR code. I’m surprised Jake didn’t bring this up.

[@Mr.Nobodies]

Ok so I haven't even started the video yet.... The number 1 way I know to spot a fake graded card is the PSA is supposed to be chrome not matte and PSA uses a certain kinda texture on the cases and if you suspect the card is fake the colors on the back will be off. If your able to see the edge of the card take a gem spect and look at the edge real cards have white black white because the ink mark between layers fake cards will be solid white not having that ink mark.

[@Quested01]

The fact that people are getting away with this is absolutely terrifying!

[@yimingli2769]

Thanks for sharing!

[@promsrey]

Dude from the image you posted the texture shows up on the fake one. It makes the real one look like it has no texture. But after a long look the blockiness of the bar code is a give away but you holding it in hand in the video and see the psa lable it becomes obvious . This makes sellers on line and not buying in person very scary

[@juanpserrano]

Do auction houses, such as PWCC or Goldin, review these in detail ? They're definitely reputable sources. Thus, not sure how deep they go into reviewing this kind of stuff.

[@IronNoe]

Thank you for this video

[@anthonylucdouzet7201]

Incredible !!!! The fake looks to be the real one

[@risky_scalps]

@twicebakedjake There is a very simple, reliable and fast way to check if a PSA slab is real or fake. Look at the PSA silver foil in the middle : real slabs have psa written in the foil, yours is shiny with no text. I had a slab with nasdac written in the foil.

[@timetravel6913]

I have just 3 slabs 2 of them have nasdac or something like that which I got a while ago and now my latest one I got says psa just like you said. One of them is from hidden fate and mine has got F.A. On it while others I have seen online and in videos have got just FA and no dots on the written label. Which I think it means psa can change little things which makes it even more confusing. I prefer toploaders and toploaders binders any way and these fakes on top of it which I don’t understand how to tell has put me off completely.

[@risky_scalps]

@@timetravel6913 right, appreciate your answer. I found out after searching and talking to others that they actually released slabs with nasdac foil but it was for a very limited time before switching to their psa foil as for now. So my bad, my statement was not correct. And as you said, I don’t get why they did small changes at the time - makes the slabs confusing. Finally there might be less fake slabs than I thought

[@Pokeaaronz]

Thanks for the info, im selling some of my personal collection and never had anything graded so this defo puts me off unfortunately. The hobby is ruined with fakes, allow me to break bones of people that make fakes 😂

[@Chickentorchic]

Do these fakes pass the blacklight test?

[@goldrino13]

What if they break it out of the slab and sell it on eBay that's scary. Can you break the fake 1 and make a vid

[@Ragnar199]

Is stock x legit place for Pokemon cards does anyone no

[@obiwon76]

You don’t really like answering any of the comments do you?

[@binsteez8881]

so even the card itself is fake ? not just the slab ?

[@yavuzsabuncuoglu]

But when you scan the psa QR code it recognises

[@johnkim9086]

So about fakes In united states only and through ebay. There is a way to avoid it for the buyer not much for the seller is authenticity guarantee. Sometimes the seller would get hit with the "oh this item is fake" when its real but as a buyer you are completely safe. Also authenticity guarantee isn't available for all countries. For example if you see graded cards coming from canada they by pass the authenticity guarantee. That's why when you see something like Moonbreon Psa 10 sometimes you don't see Authenticity guarantee because they are from a country that does not offer it.

[@DragonFangDan]

Doesn't PSA now use water marks and micro printing in their label? Could have sworn they did, I'll have to double check that at home later.

[@hieinh]

Yes They do. I can't see it on the real one but I guess it's just the video. In person would be easier

[@jasonmaulella5640]

Ugh. These fakes ruin the fun in the hobby. Totally not cool.

[@vsolcarv]

8:35 Not onlyis that not a perfect answer. It's not an answer at all. . "How do you beat the level in the game?" "You beat it, but not losing in the first place" Yeah, no shit my guy. 😂😂 You did give soid examples on the slab and card, so, ironically, you did give good advice. But your "best advice" was really silly.

[@matthewevans3718]

Just nabbed a cgc 10 Starmie v trainer gallery for 51$ is it fake or nah?! Leave a comment I’ll reply with the verdict when it comes in

[@swaggersonchannel7255]

So crazy people are faking it

[@DarkTruth1]

Is relatively easy to spot for now. We are about see and experience leaps and bounds of technological advancements that will make it even closer to the original. So my question is what, then? The hobby dies? This isnt a matter of IF, its a matter of WHEN? And that is soon. It would be silly to argue that it can't be done, it can and will be done if there's money to be made.

[@CT361]

i think the main give away is the lighthouse holo.

[@jimmyy12]

meh, I'll still be scammed if I run across one of those the only real solution is if PSA made their slab more difficult to replicate by adding some sort of security feature

[@Lia825]

Damn now im scare to even buy graded card too.

[@AFPride0764]

I wanna get fakes for my brothers birthday present lol

[@erikafournier921]

I didn't even know there were fake graded slabs

[@envoyofdaend]

use black light on the label

[@klone57]

This is crazy. Scammers are next level these days

[@xzfadrh]

Jeez, what a cool card

[@tomaskuchta1000]

I would like to know if there are some spots on the back of Pokemon cards where you could see the difference easily under the lupe, like color dots on the back of Magic cards.

[@Psystrike_]

With the lupe you can look for the rosetta pattern on the back. Real cards will have it, fakes won't

[@qualaup]

You can use a ultra violet lamp too to spot a fake.

[@deinemutter50]

Don't gonna lie. You got me in the first minute

[@aaronbrekons1847]

So on all fakes there is no Holo on the PSA symbol?

[@DarkTruth1]

For now. Only a matter of time before that's fixed. Not sure why people don't understand this basic concept. Best to not start getting too heavily in the hobby

[@hieinh]

No ink either

[@TheBismarck49YT]

Cant belive this is happening now.

[@B-radPT]

So scary that there getting so good at fooling people, without videos like this I would have no idea as don’t have any PSA graded cards in my collection

[@MG-op9tt]

Thanks

[@anthonylucdouzet7201]

And the buyer will never knows....🤷

[@Diobanny]

You should had tested the blue light.

[@DarkTruth1]

Doesn't this mean that it's inevitable that the hobby dies? As technology gets more and more advanced, soon almost anyone will be able to order printers, materials, or anything they need to make exact copies or at least 99.99% of the real thing that no expert can tell the difference?

[@TTG_JG]

Wow thanks for the insight!

[@vkerdo2361]

Its fking over bro fake one is too good

[@xdraconicgaming5204]

This one should be a 10 second video. Don’t buy graded cards and don’t pay attention to graded cards. All grading companies are incompetent beyond belief so why would you trust a minimum wage employee that doesn’t care about the card.

[@banditkeithkingofduelmonsters]

The fake cards corners look wrong.

[@marekchovanec2708]

the world is full of lies

[@BT-su1yf]

But it’s also full of pies

[@ELfrancobar]

Long story short: if you dont see it in real, it is almost impossible to see if it is real or fake

[@AlbertoJMarcano]

This hobby is becoming less and less fun

[@Frosty2014]

To the people doing this: Dude just go get a job and stop ruining the hobby with these!!

[@danielbejarano1493]

Good vid, but dude... "don't buy a fake" can't be a tip when you're trying to teach us on how to not buy a fake..... 😂 The part about researching the context of the card, seller, and the deal as a whole makes sense, but you can't use "don't buy a fake" as a tip. This is like using a word in the definition of a word...

[@TheOriginalEL]

Dude just don't buy fakes and you will never buy a fake, simple. 😂

[@nicklinn5731]

A lot of people forget to shine a black light on the label. There’s an invisible ink that shows up only under black light.

[@icymango626]

Primero 😊

[@rooftopdom]

Thank you for the breakdown sir! 🫡

[@nathancrotteaurn6104]

👍