NewsPokémon

Fake Pokémon Cards at Rotterdam: 1.7m Seized and How to Spot Them

Collector's Edge

A fake Pokémon Perfect Order box, fake pack and fake cards photographed by Dutch Customs, beside the headline 1.7 million fake Pokémon cards seized

Dutch Customs has seized about 1.7 million fake Pokémon cards at the port of Rotterdam, announcing it on 4 November 2026 once the cards had been destroyed. Customs hasn't said where the container came from or where it was going, so nothing suggests these cards were bound for the UK. What it does show is how convincing fakes can look at first glance, and how many are out there. Here's what was found, how to check a card or pack, and how to get your money back if you've bought a fake in the UK.

Fake cards seized1,719,000
Packets142,800
FoundMay 2026, Maasvlakte
Announced4 November 2026
DestinationNot stated

01 · The seizure

What did Dutch Customs find at Rotterdam?

In May, a Customs officer was checking a container in the inspection shed on the Maasvlakte, the part of Rotterdam's port built out into the North Sea. Pokémon cards were among the goods. They looked real, but the officer had doubts, so a Customs counterfeit specialist came to the shed with a genuine card to compare.

The differences were clear side by side. The fake cards carried no reference to the rights holder, and the colours, paper and images were all different from the real card.

Two Pokémon card backs side by side. The fake on the left has a washed-out purple swirl and a red cross, the real card on the right has a deep blue swirl, a trademark symbol and a green tick.
Customs' own comparison: a fake card on the left, a real card on the right. Look at the blue, and at the trademark symbol that's missing from the fake. Image: Douane (Dutch Customs)

Half the container was full of them: 9,300 boxes holding 142,800 packets and 1,719,000 cards. Stacked up, the cards would reach more than 515 metres, nearly three times the height of Rotterdam's Euromast tower. Customs says it could only go public once the rights holder had confirmed they were fakes and the cards had been destroyed, which is why a May seizure became news in November.

A fan of fake Pokémon cards, with an Annihilape ex on top, next to a fake Perfect Order booster pack on a wooden table.
Fake cards and a fake pack from the seizure. The packaging copies Perfect Order, a genuine English Mega Evolution set. Image: Douane (Dutch Customs)

The box and pack in Customs' photo copy the look of Perfect Order, so fakes aren't only an old-card problem. Customs hasn't said how many of the seized products used that design.

What we don't knowCustoms hasn't named an origin, a destination, an importer or a value, and we've seen no report of any arrests. If you see a claim that these cards were heading for UK shops, nothing we've read supports it.

02 · Cards

How do you spot fake Pokémon cards?

Compare the card with a genuine one, or with the same card in the official Pokémon card database. That one habit is how the Customs specialist settled it. Look the card up by its name and number, then work through these checks:

Check What to look for
Text Spelling of the name, the é in Pokémon, HP and damage numbers, the collector number and the rarity symbol. Do they match the official scan?
Copyright line Genuine cards carry a year and the rights holders along the bottom edge. If that line is missing, it's very likely a fake.
Print Blurred small text, odd fonts, Energy symbols in the wrong size or place, or artwork printed at a tilt.
Colours Compare with the official image. Colours that look washed out or just wrong were one of the things Customs spotted.
Back The shade of blue is the classic giveaway. Fakes are often paler or washed out, and the border may be too light or too dark.
Foil and texture Check which parts of the card should shine. On premium cards, the texture should follow the artwork. A flat surface is a red flag.
Card stock Genuine cards tend to feel smooth and matte, while fakes often feel glossy. Fakes are also often easy to see through against a bright light.
Size A standard card measures 63 x 88 mm.

A few things can catch you out. Genuine misprints exist, so one oddity isn't proof on its own: check for known misprints first. Japanese cards have a different back design, which is normal (our Japanese vs English guide explains the differences). And as fakes improve, obvious spelling errors are getting less common, so a card with clean text still deserves the other checks.

Home checks are also less reliable than an experienced eye. If a card matters to you, ask a local card shop to look at it.

03 · Packs and boxes

How do you spot fake Pokémon packs and boxes?

Sealed product is harder. Fake booster packs can be very difficult to tell from real ones until they're open, and you can't check the cards inside before you buy. Things to look out for:

  • The wrapper. Flimsy foil, wavy or perforated edges, unclear print or odd fonts.
  • The artwork and wording. Images lifted from the games or anime, or mentions of other expansions on the same pack.
  • The contents. Wrong number of cards, wrong card order or a pack that doesn't match its set.
  • The outer wrap on sealed products. Modern products should have tight Poké Ball shrink wrap. Loose or misshapen wrap and signs of glue, including a glue smell, suggest a reseal.
  • Inside a box. Packs sitting loose, the wrong number of packs or a missing promo are all warnings.

Knowing what a set should contain helps. Our Pokémon sets list is a good place to start.

04 · Listings

What are the warning signs in a listing?

You can rule out a lot of fakes before you pay. Customs' own advice is to watch for a strikingly low price, an unclear seller, or a logo or packaging that looks different, and if you're in doubt, don't order.

  • The price. Far below the normal price is the biggest warning of all. Sealed product and chase cards rarely sell cheap for an honest reason.
  • The seller. Can you tell who they are and how to reach them? No name, no address and no history are all reasons to walk away.
  • The payment. Be wary of anyone who wants you to pay outside the marketplace, by bank transfer or by PayPal Friends and Family. Each of those can leave you without buyer protection.
  • The place. Flea markets are the most commonly reported source of fakes, and a stall gives you little comeback once you've walked away.

None of these signs is proof either way, and a clean listing can still be fake. For graded cards, always check the slab: our PSA theft guide walks through a cert lookup step by step.

05 · If you bought one

What should you do if you bought fake Pokémon cards?

You have rights, and in most cases a real chance of getting your money back. Move quickly, because some of the deadlines are short.

1Keep the evidencePhotograph the card or pack, front and back, and save the listing, your payment confirmation and any messages. Don't sell it on or trade it.
2Get a second opinionCompare it with the official database, or ask a local card shop.
3Claim through the way you paidUse the table below. If you bought from a shop or business, contact them first and ask for a refund.
4Report itIn England and Wales, report the seller to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service, which passes reports on (0808 223 1133, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). In Scotland, call Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. In Northern Ireland, call Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.
5Report fraud if you were scammedIf the seller deliberately took your money, you can report it at Report Fraud or on 0300 123 2040.
How you bought it What to do Time limit
From a UK shop or business You have a right to a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, because the item doesn't match its description. Full refund within 30 days. From 30 days to 6 months the seller can replace it with a real one, otherwise refund you. After 6 months a part-refund is possible, but it's harder.
eBay Pay at eBay checkout to be covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee. Request a return, then ask eBay to step in if it isn't sorted after 3 business days. 30 days from delivery
Vinted Only "Buy now" purchases are covered. Press "I have an issue", then provide proof with photos. If the evidence is strong, the order is cancelled and refunded. 2 days from when you're told it was delivered, then reply to Vinted within 48 hours
PayPal Open a case in the Resolution Centre. Friends and Family payments aren't covered by Buyer Protection. 180 days from paying
Debit card Ask your bank for a chargeback. Ask as soon as you can
Credit card Under £100, ask for a chargeback. From £100 to £30,000, claim from your card provider under section 75. Ask as soon as you can
Private seller, outside a platform The Consumer Rights Act doesn't cover private sales, but goods must still match their description under the Sale of Goods Act 1979. You'd need to complain to the seller directly. Act as soon as you can
Worth knowingA seller can't get out of this by arguing it was obviously fake because it was cheap: under Citizens Advice's guidance they're still breaking the law. Trading Standards can prosecute, but it can't get your money back for you, so make your refund claim as well as your report. This is general guidance based on the advice for England, and details can differ elsewhere in the UK. For help with your own case, speak to Citizens Advice.

06 · Buying safely

Where can you buy Pokémon cards safely?

No seller can make the checks above pointless, but you can stack the odds in your favour:

  • Buy from a business you can identify. A UK trader with a name, address and way to reach them is bound by the Consumer Rights Act, which gives you the strongest rights in the table above.
  • Use a marketplace's own checkout. Stay on the platform and keep your buyer protection.
  • For expensive raw cards on eBay, look for the Authenticity Guarantee badge. It applies to eligible cards from £250, and they're inspected before they're posted to you.
  • If you're new to the hobby, start with our guide to the best way into Pokémon TCG so you know what a product should contain before you buy.

We're a UK trader too, so the Consumer Rights Act applies to everything you buy from us. Our Pokémon booster packs and genuine Perfect Order packs are there if you want to compare one against the photo above.

07 · Our take

Our take

Our take

The number is the story, but the officer's doubt is the lesson. These cards looked real at first, and it took a genuine card held next to them to settle it. Do the same: compare first, buy second.

Fakes are a real problem for new collectors and parents buying presents, because a cheap pack looks like a bargain. If the price seems too good, it's worth asking why. Every graded card we sell is checked against its grader's cert database before it's listed.

Pokémon TCG booster packsPacks from current sets, sold by a UK trader.
Shop booster packs

Buying graded instead? Browse our graded Pokémon cards, or learn the rules of the game with our how to play guide.

08 · FAQ

Fake Pokémon cards FAQ

How many fake Pokémon cards were seized at Rotterdam?
1,719,000 cards, in 142,800 packets and 9,300 boxes. They filled half a container.
When were the fake Pokémon cards found?
In May 2026, during a Customs check on the Maasvlakte at Rotterdam. It was announced on 4 November 2026, after the cards were destroyed.
Were the fake cards coming to the UK?
Nothing says so. Customs hasn't stated where the container came from or where it was going.
How can you tell if a Pokémon card is fake?
Compare it with a genuine card or the official database. Check the text, the copyright line at the bottom, the shade of blue on the back, the foil and the feel of the card.
Are fake Pokémon packs easy to spot?
Not always. Some are obvious, with flimsy wrappers and wavy edges, but others are very hard to tell from real packs until they're opened. Buying from a trader you can identify is the best protection.
Can I get my money back on fake Pokémon cards?
Usually, yes. From a UK business you have a right to a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. On eBay, Vinted, PayPal and cards, use their own claim routes, and act quickly because the time limits vary.
Who do I report fake Pokémon cards to?
Trading Standards, through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. Use Advice Direct Scotland or Consumerline in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sources

Photographs: Douane (Dutch Customs), reused with credit under its copyright terms.