Pokemon: Fakes are in the Cards

There's nothing sadder than a 6-year-old with a fake Charizard. "The poor kids, they're heartbroken when they find out they have fakes," said Butchie Eidleman, owner of We R Sports at the Laurel Mall. Every day, starting just a few minutes after school gets out, Eidleman's store is flooded with kids who have one thing on their minds. Pokemon. Kids crave those cards. And they'll do just about anything to get them. "A lot of parents tell me the cards are a good motivational tool," Eidleman said. "Kids will do their chores and behave to try and earn some cards." Each card features one of the 150 Pokemon species. Kids then play a game in which their Pokemon "battle," similar to the card game "War." But lately Eidleman is seeing a new trend.

Fake Fearows. Mock Machamps. Kids come in excited about their latest find, only to become crest-fallen when Eidleman informs them it's counterfeit. With some authentic cards selling for more than $50, counterfeits can be a profitable business.

What happens when a youngster finds out his Ivysaur is an imposter?

"Some of them get really upset," Eidleman said. "They feel like they've been tricked, and some even worry they'll get arrested. It's terrible when a kid has hundreds of dollars worth of cards, but they're all fake." Eidleman says some parents seem surprised when he warns them to watch out for counterfeit cards locally. "They think it's just in the big city."

Matt Kusko has seen his share of fake cards. "One little kid I know, all of his cards are fake except one." For Kusko, "little" is relative. At the ripe old age of 11, he considers himself a veteran of card-trading. He has all of the first and second series of cards, and about half the third. The fourth series, called "Team Rocket," is expected to hit stores in November.

The characters first appeared as part of an electronic Nintendo game. Nintendo licensed Wizards of the Coast, based in Washington, to make the cards. Wizards spokesperson Beth Llewelyn said the company has been working with customs and law enforcement officials to cut down on counterfeits of all Pokemon products. She said customs officers have seized millions of dollars worth of fake products within the past few months, much of it in the New York area.

Ryan Jones, 10, of Freeland has 54 cards. He had 55, but he got rid of his fake one. "My friend likes it so I gave it to him. He didn't care that it was fake." Many of the kids at We R Sports one recent afternoon said they'd gotten fake cards at the Hometown Auction. That's where Joe Gocek, 10, of Weatherly, bought his cards. "When I found out they were fake, I was pretty mad." Brandon Lenhardt, 6, of Hazleton, did a lot of dishes to earn his stash of 160 cards. Because he only buys his cards from dealers, he hasn't gotten any counterfeit ones. Brandon Honicker, 8, of Freeland, has four fake cards. He doesn't mind that they're worth less. He still thinks they're "cool." He got them from trades, and probably will offer them as a trade to someone else.

As for the Pokemon craze, Eidleman predicts it will only gain steam. Along with the cards, there are plush toys, clothes, a Pokemon Monopoly game and a host of other merchandise. The Pokemon movie has reportedly set box office records in Japan. It is scheduled for release in the United States next month.

Joe Curcio, owner of Beanies and More, started selling the cards a month ago. "It's crazy. It's unbelievable." Curcio says he hasn't gotten any fake cards, but he's been studying pictures of fake ones so he'll know what to look for.

Eidleman says parents must be cautious consumers. "If you're buying a pack of cards in a Ziploc bag from some guy at a carnival for only $3, you're gonna get what you pay for."