The Pokémon Trading Card Game has taken the world by storm, with release after release instantly selling out and even resulting in some violence. The TCG originally released back in 1996, almost 30 years ago, but prior to the official release several prototype cards were created.
These prototype cards were obviously not available to the public, but just last year several of these prototypes went up for auction and sold for tens of thousands of dollars (with card grading company CGC confirming that some sold up to $55,000). These cards came from Takumi Akabane’s private collection, Akabane being one of the original creators of the TCG.
In a bombshell reveal, it turns out that these cards may actually be fakes that were created last summer. One of the buyers of the prototype cards investigated and discovered that there were hidden marks, or tracking dots, that revealed the farce. If you didn’t know, most printers nowadays will have some sort of watermark that will identify when and where something was printed. The tracking dots for these particular cards showed that they were all printed in June 2024 and not back in the ’90s.
As stated earlier, hundreds to thousands of these cards were put up for auction and at this time, it’s currently unknown if they’re all fake or just this set. An investigation is currently underway as it’s also unknown if Akabane knew they were fake or if he was also unaware. It’s disheartening to see the lengths that scammers will go to and how even at auction houses, you may be purchasing counterfeits.
We will update this story as more information comes to light.
Via: PokéBeach | Video Games Chronicle
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Written by Roberto Diaz
Embark on a gaming odyssey with a passionate player deeply immersed in pop culture. Roberto not only conquers virtual realms but also dominates the pop music scene, turning life into a harmonious adventure filled with gaming triumphs and cultural insights.
