How to make sure a card is not a fake?
General forum
Posted on April 3, 2014, 11:37 a.m. by MortisAngelus
Hello,
today I recieved a Gisela, Blade of Goldnight that I suspect might be a fake.
Why I suspect:
- The colors seem a bit faded, but it might be because of the lighting in the room I'm in.
- The Card seems thinner. Do Wizards change the thickness of cards very often? I noticed that the Commaner 2013-cards are thicker than cards before C13 (or at least I think they are). Same goes for BNG-cards.
The card was bought from a new seller on magiccardmarket.eu. The others buying from them were happy, and the seller have both an up and running facebook and youtube page, so they seem legit.
So, how can I make sure I didn't get fraud? Is there a way?
miracleHat says... #3
Check on the back of the card where it says "deckmaster". You might notice that there are these weird squiggly lines behind the "t" and "e" and maybe "r". If they are there and bluish purple, then that normally means that they are real cards. The story is that they are typos, so essentially, every card has a typo. I have been looking through reviews of magiccardmarket and people say that it is reliable/excellent ect.
April 3, 2014 11:47 a.m.
MortisAngelus says... #4
Thank you guys for the help. Been trying out a few of the tests such as bending, light, fiber structure, and the typo-thing, and it has passed them all. I just can't get away from the fact that it feels thinner and bends easier than the other cards. Guess I have to compare it to my friend's Gisela....
But thanks again.
April 3, 2014 12:03 p.m.
I've owned a Jace, Architect of Thought that felt a little flimsy and thinner as well, and I suspected the same. Other copies were more "normal" besides that one, and passed all tests like yours. I suspect it's just something rare that happens during printing.
April 3, 2014 12:32 p.m.
MortisAngelus says... #6
April 3, 2014 1:05 p.m.
From my experience, it was not a worry. Got it validated from two shop owners. Good luck
April 3, 2014 1:34 p.m.
You guys also forget: Faking cards is not that easy. They only do high-value cards. Why fake a Gisela when you could fake a Goyf or a Fetch?
April 3, 2014 1:41 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #10
I mean I would only create an altered Gisela as a commander....
April 3, 2014 3:18 p.m.
ChiefWannaHacka says... #11
@Jp3ngu1nb0y Hey now Gisela is a $12 card. Last time I checked it's easier to move $12 than $200. Like if I made counterfeit bills, why would I print hundo's when I could print 10's and 20's and just go buy groceries and stuff lol.
April 3, 2014 3:49 p.m.
mymanpotsandpans says... #12
It sounds like you have already done the bend test but still. Go and take a crapy common or something and just bend it repeatedly, multiple times. Just for the sake of getting the feal. I once did this with a cut land and over all magic cards are surprising strong. I put that card though hell and back to see at what point a bent would "fail". Still a very worn magic cards will have some resilience left in it after something like that. If after 1-2 light bend tests it seems not to be on par then there you go.
Also sometimes cards just seem to be printed with different degree of darkness. I have a Lifebane Zombie that I pulled that is more purple/blue than the grey it should be. If I had not pulled it I would believe its fake. Most people ask why I have a fake lifebane but its just the way they come sometimes. I think, let me know if anyone has a purple lifebane.
You could always just send it to wizards and ask them if it is a fake. I am 99% sure that would just irritate someone but who knows. Include a dollar with it, should go well.
pokeyrabbit says... #2
try some of these: http://www.manaleak.com/mtguk/2014/03/how-to-spot-fake-mtg-cards/
April 3, 2014 11:42 a.m.