Fake Pokémon TCG booster packs and trainer boxes exist, but there are ways to determine whether someone has a scam in mind, at retailers and online.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game experienced a popularity surge throughout the pandemic, resulting in skyrocketing prices and unfortunate swindles for first-time buyers, with fake cards and scams taking advantage of the unwary. Fake cards in trading card games aren’t a new occurrence; many scammers sell forged, rare cards or faulty packs without their full contents. While scammers are constantly developing new ways to generate profits from less-informed collectors, it’s important to remember the various risks of purchasing fad items. With new Pokémon collections releasing throughout the year and the values of different cards rising and falling, the amount consumers are willing to pay (and the amount fans are willing to put up with) varies with them. Thankfully, there are many ways to tell if online purchases or third-party trades are trustworthy and legitimate.
Pokémon TCG contains countless collections of base sets and expansions that correspond with every core series generation and game. The rarest cards usually feature alternate or full art (different, rarer depictions of a specific monster in the collection) and come in foil versions that raise the card’s value. Third-party websites often set the price of different cards and track fluctuating…
