Subject: How to Spot Counterfeit Cards-Lili

NOTE: Credit to Beckett Yu-Gi-Oh Collector. I found this article in there, 
and I think that everyone should know about this. It isn't word for word, 
it's a summary. Pick up the magazine and read the whole article!!!

Well, anyway I hope this helps!

HOW TO IDENTIFY COUNTERFEIT YU-GI-OH CARDS:

1) Fuzzy Print Quality: High quality printing is expensive. People who are 
trying to make counterfeit cards are looking for the cheapest way to make 
money. Be cautious when purchasing individual cards! If you have a problem 
reading the text on one of the cards, it's best to stay away from it. 

2) Weird Rarity: Sometimes counterfeiters are so lazy they don't even bother 
to put a fake foil finish on the cards. You may find a Blue Eyes White Dragon 
with Gold lettering on top with no foil at all. Or you might see a fake Skull 
Red Bird with a foil finish.

3) Card Size: Fake ones are slightly smaller than the real ones. The width is 
narrower than real ones, and the length is shorter than the real ones.

4) Low Quality Foil: Upper Deck prides itself on making a top quality 
product. The genuine foils look professionally made. They have a depth to 
them and have portions shinier than others. Many of the fake cards look 
entitrely holographic. These counterfeiters tried to produce some of the 
cards this way to cut the costs.

5) Card thickness: Real Yu-Gi-Oh cards are printed on high quality paper 
stock. A lot of the counterfeit cards that have been spotted are printed on 
poor quality paper that is significantly thinner/thicker than other cards. If 
you pick up a card and it feels lighter or heavier than other cards, it's 
probably a counterfeit card. Authentic cards will have a certain thickness 
that will give the card a "snap" if you flick it with your fingers.

BUYING TIPS:
The easiest way to avoid buying counterfeit cards is to only buy the sealed 
plastic wrapped starter kits, theme decks, or booster packs from a reputable 
store. It is illegtal to have counterfeit cards in your possesion. It is also 
illegal to buy, sell, and trade illegal or counterfeit products. If you have 
bought or seen any counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh products, please turn them into the 
police immediately and tell therm where they were being sold. If you wish to 
stay anonymous, please tell them. It would be better if you did that in case 
the person started hunting you down or something. Don't be afraid to tell. 

Well, I hope that helps. If you have any questions, you can always email me 
at DuelingMistress@aol.com and I'll be sure to answer soon, unless I'm on a 
trip or something. ^_^ Don't worry, I'll answer soon enough.