How to Spot a Fake Slab Pokemon Card
Pokemon cards have become incredibly valuable collectibles over the past few years. When a card is especially rare or in perfect condition, collectors often send them to professional grading companies. These companies examine the card carefully and then place it inside a protective plastic case called a slab. The slab has a grade on it that tells you how good the condition of the card is. Because real slabbed cards can be worth thousands of dollars, fake slabbed cards have become a huge problem in the collecting community. Learning how to spot these fakes is really important if you want to protect your money and make sure you are buying authentic cards.
The first thing you need to understand is what a legitimate slab looks like. The major grading companies that slab Pokemon cards include PSA, Beckett, and CGC. PSA is probably the most popular one for Pokemon cards. When you look at a real PSA slab, you will notice several important features. The plastic case itself is very thick and high quality. It does not feel cheap or flimsy. The card inside is held securely in place and cannot move around. There is a label on the front of the slab that shows the card name, the grade, and other information. The label is printed clearly and the colors are vibrant. The back of the slab also has important information printed on it.
One of the easiest ways to spot a fake slab is to look at the overall quality of the plastic. Real slabs are made from very durable plastic that is designed to protect the card for many years. When you hold a real slab, it feels solid and well made. Fake slabs often use cheaper plastic that feels thin or flimsy. The plastic might feel brittle or like it could crack easily. Sometimes the plastic is cloudy or has a yellowish tint to it. Real slabs have clear plastic that lets you see the card perfectly. If the plastic looks discolored or unclear, that is a red flag that something is wrong.
The label on the front of the slab is another area where fakes often fail. On a real PSA slab, the label is printed with high quality printing equipment. The text is sharp and clear. The colors are bright and accurate. The label is also perfectly centered on the slab. When you look at a fake slab, the label might be printed poorly. The text might look blurry or fuzzy. The colors might be off or faded. The label might be crooked or not centered properly. Sometimes the label is printed on regular paper instead of the special label material that real slabs use. You can often tell by running your finger over the label. A real label feels smooth and professional. A fake label might feel rough or like the ink is sitting on top of the paper.
The hologram on the label is a security feature that real slabs have. PSA slabs have a hologram that shows the PSA logo. This hologram is very difficult to fake because it requires special equipment to create. When you tilt a real PSA slab under light, you will see the hologram shift and change. The hologram looks three dimensional and has depth to it. On a fake slab, the hologram might be missing entirely. If there is a hologram, it might not shift properly when you tilt it. It might look flat or two dimensional. Sometimes fake slabs have a hologram that is printed on the label instead of being a real hologram. You can tell the difference because a printed hologram will not shift and change like a real one does.
The card itself inside the slab is also important to examine. You need to look at the card through the plastic and see if it looks right. First, check if the card is actually a real Pokemon card. Look at the printing quality. Real Pokemon cards have very sharp printing with no blurry areas. The colors are vibrant and accurate. The text is crisp and easy to read. Fake cards often have printing that is not as sharp. The colors might be slightly off. The text might be blurry in places. You should also look at the card stock. Real Pokemon cards are made from high quality cardboard. The card should feel thick and sturdy. Fake cards are sometimes made from thinner or lower quality cardboard.
Another thing to check is whether the card is actually in the condition that the slab says it is. If the slab says the card is in mint condition but you can see obvious damage through the plastic, then something is wrong. Look for creases, stains, or other damage. Look at the corners and edges of the card. In a mint condition card, the corners should be sharp and not worn. The edges should be clean and not frayed. If you see damage that does not match the grade on the slab, the slab is probably fake.
The way the card is positioned inside the slab matters too. In a real slab, the card is held in place by a special holder that keeps it centered and secure. The card should not be able to move around inside the slab. If you shake the slab and the card moves or slides around, that is a sign that it is fake. The card should also be positioned so that you can see the entire card clearly through the plastic. If the card is positioned at an angle or if part of it is hidden, that is suspicious.
The back of the slab also has important information. Real PSA slabs have a barcode on the back. This barcode is unique to each card and can be used to verify the card on the PSA website. The barcode should be printed clearly and should scan properly. Fake slabs might have a barcode that does not work or that is printed poorly. The back of the slab should also have the PSA logo and other text printed clearly. If the back looks poorly printed or has spelling errors, that is a red flag.
You should also check the serial number on the slab. Each real slab has a unique serial number that corresponds to the card inside. You can look up this serial number on the PSA website to verify that the card is real. If you try to look up the serial number and it does not come up in the PSA database, then the slab is definitely fake. This is one of the most reliable ways to check if a slab is authentic. You can go to the PSA website and use their search tool to look up the serial number. If the card exists in their database, you will see information about the card including the grade, the card name, and other details.
The weight of the slab can also give you clues. Real slabs have a certain weight because of the thick plastic and the card inside. Fake slabs might feel lighter or heavier than they should. If you have held a real slab before, you will develop a feel for what the right weight should be. If a slab feels noticeably different, that could mean it is fake.
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