How to check a graded Pokémon card is real
Look the cert number up on the grader's own site, then check the label, the case and the card against that record. A cert that matches is not proof. Counterfeiters copy real numbers onto fake labels.
Tick every warning sign you can see
Each tick adds to the meter. The verdict is underneath.
PSA lookup workingCGC lookup workingACE lookup workingTAG lookup workingSGC lookup workingBGS lookup offline since September 9, 2026
- There are two frauds. One is a fake case with a fake label. The other is a real case with a different card put inside.
- The cert lookup catches a lazy fake. It does not catch a copied number.
- A BGS slab cannot be looked up at present. Beckett's site has been offline since September 9, 2026.
- A case that has been opened shows it: white frosting at the edges, gaps, or a case that flexes.
- The card inside still has to pass every test a raw card would.
- A top grade priced well under the market is the commonest bait.
Look up the cert number
Every graded card has a certification number on its label. PSA, CGC, ACE, TAG and SGC each have a lookup on their own site.
Beckett's site has been offline since September 9, 2026, so a BGS number cannot be checked online at present. Take extra care with a BGS slab until the lookup is back.
- Type the number in yourself.Do not follow a link the seller sends. Go to the grader's site and enter the number by hand.
- Match every detail.The card, the set, the card number, the year and the grade must all agree with the label. One difference is enough to walk away.
- Compare the picture, if there is one.Some graders show a photo of the exact card. Match the centering and any marks, not just the name.
- Read the warnings.Graders flag numbers tied to known fakes. A record that says so ends the matter.
A matching record proves only that the number is real. PSA itself warns that counterfeiters copy real cert numbers from public sources.
Check the label
- The print is sharp. Fuzzy edges, heavy letters or text that sits crooked are signs of a copy.
- The hologram shifts color cleanly when you tilt it. A flat or muddy one is wrong.
- The label sits straight and fills its window. A label that has slipped means the case was opened.
- Compare it with a slab you know is real, from the same grader and about the same year. Labels change over time.
Check the case
| Look at | A sealed case | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| The edges | Clear and even all the way round. | White frosting or cracks where the two halves were prised apart. |
| The seam | The halves are bonded with no gap. | A gap you can catch a fingernail in, or dried glue. |
| Pressure | Rigid. It does not give when you squeeze the edges. | The halves flex or click. |
| The card | Held firm and centered in its well. | It slides or rattles, or sits crooked. |
Check the card inside
A real case with the wrong card in it is still a fraud. So judge the card itself through the plastic.
- Look the card up and compare the artwork, the text and the set symbol with the real one.
- Does the condition fit the grade? A card called a 10 has clean corners and centering you would not question.
- Check the print. Real cards have crisp text and, on textured cards, a pattern you can see under light.
Check the price and the seller
Fraud follows money, so the cards most copied are the dearest ones in the highest grades.
- Look the card up on our card pages. They show what it sells for at each grade, and how many copies exist at that grade.
- A price well under those figures needs an explanation. A rushed sale is not one.
- Be careful with new accounts, stock photos and sellers who refuse more pictures.
- Keep the sale on a platform that protects buyers. Do not be talked into paying outside it.
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Common questions
Can a fake slab have a real cert number?
Yes. Counterfeiters copy real numbers from public listings onto fake labels, so the lookup returns a real record. Match the card, the label and the case as well, not the number alone.
How do I check a PSA cert number?
Go to PSA's site yourself and enter the number from the label. The record must match the card, set, card number and grade. Newer records also show a photo of the card.
What does frosting on a slab mean?
White, cloudy marks along the case edges. They appear when the two halves are prised apart. A frosted slab has been opened, or has taken a hard knock.
Is a graded card safer to buy than a raw one?
Safer, not safe. A real slab confirms the card and its condition. But slabs are faked and cards are swapped, so the checks on this page still apply.
Which grading companies have a cert lookup?
PSA, CGC, ACE, TAG and SGC have one on their own sites. Beckett's lookup for BGS slabs has been offline since September 9, 2026. Use the grader's own site, never a page a seller links to.
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