PSA Fraud Report Ranks Pokémon JP S-P Pikachu #002 Top Counterfeit
PSA's fraud report reportedly names Pokémon JP S-P Pikachu #002 (2019) as the most counterfeited Pokémon card, and it can be bought for $150 or under. The report cites a 407% increase in altered Pokémon cards submitted for grading in 2025, and ranks S&V 151 Charizard ex #199 (2023) second and JP Base Set Charizard #006 (1996) fifth. PSA says some counterfeit signs are not visible to the naked eye. Only one card on the list is over 8 years old, and nearly half of the listed cards are from 2019. The report also states Charizard is a more popular counterfeit target than both Mickey Mouse and Michael Jordan. PSA recommends six authenticity checks: card edges (consistent beveling), colors (ink bleeds on edges and borders), shape (warping or curving), gloss (too shiny or uneven sheen), layering (visible card layers) and size (exact dimensions, where even fractions of a millimeter matter). PSA adds that counterfeits are getting harder to spot and that sealed packaging may be tampered with.
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