Ebay seller caught selling a high quality fake magic card. How to check for fakes

Ebay seller sells me a high quality fake/counterfeit magic card. It's pretty difficult to tell that this card was fake without using a jewelers loupe. Counterfeits are getting more realistic, especially for newer magic cards.

UPDATE: The eBay seller that sold me this card told me he genuinely did NOT know that the card was fake (which I do believe) and he issued a prompt refund and apology. I would have no problem purchasing from this seller in the future

[reyalitylol]

If you 100% think it's fake...rip it for us and show us that core.

[GelidGanef]

The scammers are getting better and better. And thank god. Relying on wotc for reprints clearly isn't working. Maybe I can afford to play legacy or modern in my lifetime.

[ARandomPersonAgain]

Yeah, I don't think anyone really knows if something that looks close is fake.. Could be factory, quality, etc.. Doesn't always mean another printer made if it's slightly off.. Specially when so many "real" products are looking different all the time. Good luck to all..

[PwndNewbie]

Legitimate cards printed in Japan have a completely different look to them than US printed cards as well. They sometimes have a shinier back and a dull front. Newer fake cards are pressed and not cut, so back side edges are slightly raised, and their back side is even shinier than Japan printed cards.

[oldmanmagic]

My first take on this was that maybe some fakes ended up in their collection of real cards depending on how they buy, sell, or trade. If you discovered that they specifically sold proxies of cards before, that would be a red flag for me. I purposely don't have any proxy cards in my collection because of this exact reason, but it also wouldn't be unheard of if a fake card or two filtered its way in over 30 years of collecting.

[SpiderSmokingSam]

that card is not fake. that variation in shades among blues can be seen on many cards, and the variation in clarity in the inner border line is also common. just depends on set and print run. keep in mind, if the "fake" is so good it's barely detectable under very close scrutiny, it's probably good enough to trick anybody that sees it.

as far as the light test goes, if you see the bark pattern etc and a blue tone that is a strong indicator that it's good, but *not* seeing all that doesn't mean it's bad. some cards are like that

[kevinhaen]

The issues shown could clearly be differences in printers and countries of origin. These differences are extremely clear in newer sets. You need to take these cards to a shop and compare them to identical cards from the same set, same country of origin. Without that, as well as an attempt at checking the core, then your review is incomplete. The only valid way, without destroying the card, is to have the card officially examined and graded by a professional grading company.

[golDroger]

There are a few things to say here.
1. Belgium, Us and Japan printed cards all have a different feel.
2. Variations in color are to be expected.
3. The real test would be the 4 red dots, why didn't you show that?
Also what's the smell like? That's a big indicator. Keep in mind the multiple printers, though.

[Troglodytemtg]

Also it's it possible it was so close even the seller was fooled? Big sellers can't check everything

[lechzracpogi]

Why didn't you check the Green Bauble for the L shaped dots?

[fireball]

I always pay attention to the TM logo on the back. Majority of proxies I've encountered have a whiter and more prominent font and real ones have a more subtle TM logo

[Schoney]

Not all real cards have that tree bark pattern for the light test.. I have a terror of the peaks that I literally got from a booster back and it doesn’t have that. But light does shine through it

[sideshowonacid]

Dude. That card might very well be real. I would need to compare it to other MH1 cards to be sure. Comparing 2 cards from 2 different sets, from 2 different years is ridiculous.

[JJace]

The 'TM' on the backside was directly suspicious to me.

[tommieboi]

I'm not so sure about all these tests. I've opened a fresh pack of cards and ran them through the light test and the bend test and they have failed. Fresh from the pack!!! Light will not pass through some of the new dominaria cards and they will crease if bent. Not sure what to think now.

[fienddube]

Scary. I bought some Chinese fakes last year (to test & compare, and use to help my friends know what to look for). One of the issues we noticed was that the hologram on cards was not good; if you held it next to a real card and turned them slightly under a lamp, you could quickly see the Holo on the fake was blurry, messy...while the real Holo was crisp and the prongs on the magic symbol were perfect. BUTTT...what you’ve got here is MUCH better as far as the hologram. That Force of Negation’s hologram is nearly perfect. SCARY.

[garieb]

I think the card is real not a fake. At least it isn't printed with a digital Printer. It is printed with an professionel printing method. Probably Offset or Flexo. You can't do this at Home. The differences are normal for These printing methodes

[TimmyTurner]

He should label them as fakes and sell them as high quality proxies. Obviously he's very talented at making these cards

[Lonewolf]

I wish wizards cared about quality control. Its hard enough when you have the same set using different types of card stocks with different finishes. Then there is the issue with color consistency within a set. Their laxed quality control standards make it far easier for counterfeiting.

[DrollerTroller]

The light test here is not correct. Some Magic cards from modern sets are not light-transparent. I saw cards from Kaldheim completely opaque. I took those cards from original set-boosters.

But here we are comparing card from 2019 set with the card from 2016 set.