As Yu-Gi-Oh! climbed in popularity, there was an unfortunate parallel: a climb in the number of counterfeit cards. Unscrupulous dealers try to cash in on the game’s success by making and selling fake cards, and unless you learn how to spot them, you risk being fooled. There are several features to look for that will help you determine whether or not a card is genuine, and this article will outline them for you.

First off, always remember that old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Find an online auction for "FULL SET OF EXODIA CARDS TEN DOLLARS!"? It’s a safe bet that the cards are not real. Look at feedback for Internet sellers, and be wary of buying cards that you cannot inspect in person. If someone wants to trade "rare, valuable cards," and he or she isn’t willing to let you have a close look at them, steer clear. Reputable card retailers and people you know and trust are your best source for cards.

Now then, how to spot a fake. The best way is to get a card you know is real and study it. Learn what it looks like! Study the fonts (what the letters look like), the layout, and the colors. Examine the holographic treatment or foil printing (if any). When you come across a card that you are unsure is real, compare it to the real one and take note of any differences. Feel the card stock it is printed on, and see if there is a different texture or thickness. Counterfeit cards are often printed on thin, shiny stock, and they are frequently off-colored. The printing is not clear and crisp, but faded and blurry. Counterfeit cards are also occasionally holographic over the entire card. However, some imitation cards duplicate the look and feel of a real card extremely well, so that test alone will not guarantee a card is authentic. Fortunately there are several other ways to check.

Genuine Yu-Gi-Oh! cards all have certain features that set them apart from fakes. On the lower right front corner of a genuine Yu-Gi-Oh! card, you will find a small hologram. Look at the pattern carefully—it features the words "Yu-Gi-Oh!" and the Eye of Anubis logo. Study the card from the side—does the hologram lie level with the surface of the card, or is it higher? If you scratch at a corner of it, is it a sticker that can peel off? If a card lacks a hologram, or the hologram does not have the right pattern, or if you can feel the holo when you rub your finger across it, the card is counterfeit.

Read the copyright information right under the hologram. It should say © KAZUKI TAKAHASHI. If this name is misspelled or missing, the card is counterfeit.

Now turn the card over. The back of a genuine Yu-Gi-Oh! card has the KONAMI ® logo in the top right hand corner, and the English "Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game" in the lower right hand corner. If either of these is absent or misspelled, the card is counterfeit.

There are other things to keep in mind. Currently, Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are only printed in certain languages. Upper Deck only prints English, French (Canadian), and Spanish. Cards printed in other languages, such as Chinese, are counterfeit. Chinese Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are offered for sale on the Internet and often in import or convenience stores, so be sure to look twice before you buy.

It’s also not a bad idea to learn what cards have been printed officially, what they do, and their rarities. That makes it easier to spot a fake "error card" or "limited edition promo."

So! Now you know what to look for, put it into practice. Study real cards so that you are familiar with how they should look and feel and carefully examine cards that are offered to you for trade or sale. Think twice about "too good to be true" deals, remember the features of genuine Yu-Gi-Oh! cards—and don’t purchase counterfeits, even as a joke or collectible. As long as the counterfeit cards continue to sell, people will continue to make and distribute them. As long as you look over cards carefully, you won’t get taken in by a counterfeit!