Counterfeit cards are common, and a fake won't pass authentication. Before you spend money grading a card, here are some quick, non-destructive checks you can do at home.
Look at the print
Under magnification, genuine cards show a fine, even dot (rosette) pattern. Many fakes look blurry, pixelated, or have visibly coarse or uneven dots. Crisp text and clean colour are good signs; fuzzy edges and muddy colour are red flags.
Check the texture and finish
Genuine holo and foil cards have a consistent, well-applied finish. Fakes often have holo that looks "off," covers the wrong areas, or feels different to a card you know is real. Compare side by side with a card you trust.
Inspect the back and borders
Compare the back colour and the centering of the back design against a genuine example. Off colours, the wrong shade, or sloppy borders are common on counterfeits.
Mind the font and details
Wrong fonts, odd spacing, missing symbols, or small text that doesn't quite match are classic counterfeit tells. The set symbol, energy symbols and copyright line are worth a close look.
What to avoid
Skip the destructive "rip" or "bend" tests — if the card is real, you've just damaged it. Non-destructive checks plus comparison to a known-genuine card will catch most fakes.
The definitive check
Home checks catch obvious fakes, but the only sure answer is verification. CALIBRE includes authentication checks as part of grading. See how it works, or start your order →