Avoiding Fakes and Scams Christmas 2025

 Avoiding Fake Board Games This Christmas 2025 

I have posted this before, but as we are at the time when lots of people will be looking for gifts and stocking fillers online, I thought it was worth reposting this guide, all about trying to avoid fakes and counterfeits this Christmas.

 Chinese Import Shops

If you’re shopping from websites such as Temu, Wish, or AliExpress, then 99.9% of the time the games listed are fake. There’s a reason “Dobble” or “Uno” might only cost a couple of pounds and that is they’re not genuine.

It can be tempting to think, “Oh, it doesn’t matter,” but I promise it does. I once played “Skip-Bo” with a fake deck, and it was dreadful. The cards were thin, slippery, and cut badly, and it completely ruined the experience. You wouldn’t buy a bootleg DVD for a Christmas movie night, so don’t settle for a bootleg board game either and its definitely not something you want to give as a gift.

 Amazon and Online Marketplaces

Even Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace can be risky. Third-party sellers on Amazon are not regulated, and often stock (even if Primeable) can be fake.

A lot of card games and board games on eBay are fake, especially if shipping from China.

Before you click “Buy Now,” check:

• Who the item is sold by and dispatched by. “Sold by Amazon” is safer than third-party sellers.
• Where is the item coming from? Id its coming from China then it is most likely fake.
• The listing photos — do they look like the official box, or are they blurry, cropped, or oddly lit? Look for actual pictures rather than stock photos on EBay. Check BGG or a review on here to see what the box art should look like. Often copies wont have all of the correct logos.
• The reviews — if you see people saying “cheap copy” or “arrived with no insert,” steer clear.

Facebook Marketplace and eBay are full of deals this time of year, but unless it’s a sealed copy from a trusted seller with good feedback, treat those as “buyer beware.”

 General Tips to Stay Safe

Retailer Reputation
Stick to well-known, trusted retailers like Zatu, Chaos Cards, Thirsty Meeples, or Waterstones. If you’re shopping on an unfamiliar site, look for clear contact details, a UK address, and proper returns information.

Amazon is rarely the cheapest anyway. Boardgameprices is a good place to check prices quickly.

Use PayPal or a credit card if unsure, as these offer a second layer of protection.

Price
If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Board game prices are fairly consistent across official stores. A £45 game selling for £9.99 isn’t a Christmas miracle. Sadly it’s a fake.

Barcodes and Serial Numbers
Some publishers (like Asmodee and Ravensburger) include product codes that you can verify online. If your box is missing these or they don’t match, that’s a warning sign.

Packaging
Check the logos. Fake boxes often omit the publisher logo altogether or use odd fonts and colours. You might also notice:

• Unusual writing or language on the back (often Arabic or simplified Chinese)
• Low-resolution printing or fuzzy artwork
• Missing foil, embossing, or satin finishes
• Incorrect box style (most modern games use lift-off lids, not cheap tuck boxes.
• If the game shows up in a plain cardboard box covered in Chinese writing then it is almost certainly fake.

Components
The difference is often in the feel. Counterfeit versions usually have:

• Cheap, thin cards that stick together or fray easily
• Tokens that are off-centre or miscut
• Hollow, light, or oddly coloured plastic pieces
• Missing or incorrect rulebooks

Games like “Uno”, “Azul,” “Ticket to Ride,” and “Codenames” are especially prone to fakes, so double-check before you gift them.

Inserts and Storage
Most modern games come with an insert or tray. Fakes often arrive with components rattling around in a plain box, or with a flimsy cardboard divider.

 New for 2025: Extra Things to Watch Out For

• TikTok and social media adverts – there’s been a big rise in scam ads showing official publisher artwork but linking to fake webshops. TBH pretty much anything you buy on TIKTOK is coming from the same place as Temu. Often social media ads are also just affiliate links to another website.
• Vinted and other similar websites are also sadly full of fakes and unlike eBay is a bit more of a pain to get a refund from the seller. Remember, there is also the possibility that the seller themselves doesn’t even realise what they have is a fake.
• Google Shopping results – counterfeit sites are now paying for ads, so the first few listings you see might not be legitimate stores.
• Closing Down Sales – You regularly see adverts for board game shops closing down and wishing their customers well. These are scam sites and are just trying to take your money before disappearing. Check websites on Trustpilot.
• “Bundle deals” – if a site is offering a stack of 3–4 big-name games for the price of one, it’s a scam. No genuine retailer can do that.
• Language editions – some imported games are genuine but not English-language editions. If the listing doesn’t clearly state that it’s English, you may get one with non-English cards or rules. Also double check Amazon listings, as sometimes it’s not clear you are getting a cheaper Italian or German copy.
  
  
   What to Do if You Find a Fake

If you realise you’ve been sent a counterfeit:

1. Request a refund immediately through the platform you bought it from. If bought from a shop and they do not reply, use PayPal or your credit card to recover.
2. Report the seller or listing to help stop others from being scammed.
3. Don’t just keep it: fake games often breach safety regulations, especially those made with cheaper inks or plastics.

If you’re unsure, post a few photos in the group — I’m happy to help you check if it’s genuine.


Let’s make sure everyone’s unwrapping real, high-quality games under the tree this year, not cheap knock-offs that spoil the fun. Support legitimate publishers, local game shops, and trusted online retailers so we can all keep enjoying this amazing hobby the way it’s meant to be played.