Most Pokémon card trades go fine. A few do not, and the ones that go wrong tend to go wrong in the same ways: a fake card, a card in worse condition than the photos, a package that never arrives, or a person who disappears after you send first.

This is a checklist you can use before every trade, whether you trade in a group chat, in an app or across a table at a card show. None of it is complicated, and most of it takes a minute.

Before you agree to anything

1. Check the person. Look at how long they have been around. Do they have a profile with a history, other people who traded with them, a name you can find in more than one place? A brand new account that is in a hurry is the most common warning sign. If a trader refuses to answer simple questions, that is also your answer.

2. Ask for photos of the real cards. Not stock images and not screenshots of a listing. Ask for a photo of the front and back in good light, with the edges and corners visible. A seller who has the card can take a new photo in a minute. A seller who cannot is probably not holding it.

3. Agree on the exact cards and the condition. Write down the full name, the set and the number of every card, and the condition. "Near Mint" means different things to different people, so say what you expect. If you are not sure what the conditions mean, read our guide to card condition.

4. Check the value on both sides. A fair trade is a trade where both people could explain why. If one side offers far more than a card is worth, ask yourself why. Look up what each card is worth before you reply, not after. You can look cards up for free in the card value tool.

Spotting fake cards

Fakes get better every year, but most can still be caught with a few checks:

  • The back. The blue and the pattern on the back should match a card you know is real. Fakes are often too light, too dark or slightly the wrong shade.
  • The text and fonts. Look for spelling mistakes, wrong symbols, odd spacing and fonts that look different from a real card of the same set.
  • The holo. A real holo pattern changes smoothly as you tilt the card. A fake one often looks flat, or the shine is the same everywhere.
  • The feel. Real cards feel stiff and slightly textured. A flat, glossy or flimsy card is a warning.
  • The edges. Real cards have a thin layer of colour inside the edge. Fakes sometimes show a plain white edge, or a different layer structure.
  • Compare with a card you trust from the same set. Put them side by side, and in good light.

If a deal looks too good, take that seriously. A rare card at a tenth of its value is not a bargain; it is a fake or a scam.

Trading in person

Meeting in person is the safest way to trade, because you see the card in your hand before you give anything.

  • Meet in a public, well-lit place. A card shop, a card show, a café or a mall. Daytime is better.
  • Look at each card in front of the other person before the trade, in good light. Do not feel rude doing it; collectors expect it.
  • Count the cards and check them against your agreement before you hand yours over.
  • Pay or swap at the same moment. If the trade is for cash, use cash you can count on the spot, or a bank transfer that you can see arrive.
  • Know when to walk away. If anything changes at the last minute, such as a different price or a different card, you can leave.

Trading by mail

When you cannot meet, a few habits cut the risk:

  • Use tracked and insured shipping, and keep the receipt. A letter with no tracking leaves you with no proof.
  • Pack the cards well: sleeve, top loader, cardboard on both sides, and a bubble envelope or a box.
  • Photograph everything before you close the package: the cards, the packing, the label. If something goes wrong, those photos are your evidence.
  • Pay with a method that has buyer protection when you buy, and read what it covers. Sending money to a friend or relative usually has no protection.
  • With someone new, make the deal fair for both sides. If neither person wants to go first, split the order: a small trade first, then a bigger one. Or use someone both of you trust as a go-between.

What PokeTrade does to help

PokeTrade is built for trades with people near you, so the usual advice, to meet in person, is the default:

  • Trade ideas are local. The app suggests trades with collectors within about 200 km, and it is built for meeting, not for shipping to strangers.
  • Chat needs a verified identity. To message someone in the app, a person has to finish identity verification first, which makes throwaway accounts harder.
  • Offers happen in the chat. You see what you give and what you get side by side, with the condition of each card and the cash, if there is any.
  • "Verified in hand." A card in a binder can carry a mark that its owner showed the real card to the camera with a guided check. It is dated, and it is not a guarantee, because a card can change hands, but it tells you the person had it in hand on that day.
  • Block and report. You can block anyone. Neither of you can message the other or see the other's listings again, and the person is not told.

If something goes wrong

  1. Stop talking to the person, and keep every message and photo.
  2. If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider right away and describe what happened.
  3. If you shipped, contact the carrier with your tracking number.
  4. Report the person to whoever runs the group or the app, and block them.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to trade with someone I met online? It can be, if you check the person, the cards and the plan first, and meet in person where you can.

How do I know a card is real? Compare it with a card you trust, check the back, the font and the holo, and be careful with prices that are far below the usual.

Where can I find people to trade with in person? At card shops, at card shows and through trade ideas in the app. See the card shows page and the shop directory.

Try it

PokeTrade is free on iPhone and Android. Get the app and see who near you has the cards you are looking for.