You're at a thrift store or scrolling through a third-party seller on a massive e-commerce site. You see it. That iconic black and white box. The price looks amazing—maybe ten bucks cheaper than what you saw at Target or on the official website. You buy it, get it home, and realize something feels... off. The box is slightly flimsy. The cards smell like industrial chemicals. Honestly, you've probably just fallen victim to the massive market of fake Cards Against Humanity sets circulating globally.
It happens.
Cards Against Humanity (CAH) is a phenomenon. Because the creators, Max Temkin and his team, famously released the game under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0 license, there’s a lot of confusion about what’s "real." People think because they can legally print the cards at home for free, any physical box they buy is legitimate. That’s a huge misconception. While you can print your own deck at a local print shop for personal use, selling a physical box that looks exactly like the official brand is a trademark violation. And for the consumer? It’s usually a rip-off.
Why Fake Cards Against Humanity Are Everywhere
The logic is simple: high demand plus a minimalist design equals an easy target for counterfeiters. You don't need complex 3D modeling or specialized plastic molds to fake a card game. You just need a decent printer and some heavy cardstock.
Most of these bootleg sets originate from large-scale printing operations in overseas markets where trademark enforcement is, let’s say, flexible. They flood sites like eBay, AliExpress, and even Amazon (via third-party "Fulfilled by Amazon" sellers) where the listing photos are often stolen directly from the official CAH press kit. You think you're getting the real deal, but what arrives in the mail is a grainy, poorly cut imitation.
Wait. Let’s talk about the "Creative Commons" thing for a second.
The license allows you to share and remix the game. It does not allow people to use the "Cards Against Humanity" name or logo for commercial profit. That’s the "NC" (Non-Commercial) part of the license. When a random seller on a marketplace puts that logo on a box and charges you $25, they aren't "using the license." They are committing plain old trademark infringement.
The Real Cost of a Cheap Deck
Saving five or ten dollars feels good in the moment. However, the quality gap is usually massive. Real CAH cards are printed on heavy, linen-finish cardstock. They have a specific "snap" to them. If you bend a real card, it returns to its shape.
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Fake Cards Against Humanity sets are almost always printed on inferior greyboard or thin paper stock. They feel like cheap playing cards from a gas station. Worse, the "black" cards often look dark grey or have weird purple tints because the counterfeiters are using cheap ink.
Then there’s the smell.
Many users on Reddit's r/cardsagainsthumanity have reported that counterfeit sets arrive smelling strongly of "fish" or "burnt plastic." This is usually due to low-grade adhesives and UV coatings used in unregulated factories. It’s not exactly the vibe you want when you’re sitting around a table with friends and snacks.
How to Spot the Counterfeit: A Checklist
If you're looking at a box in a second-hand shop or checking your mail delivery, look for these specific red flags.
The Logo and Registered Trademark: Look at the "Cards Against Humanity" text on the box. Real sets have a very small "®" next to the name. Many fakes forget this, or the font is slightly off. CAH uses a specific weight of Helvetica. If the "t" looks weird or the spacing is tight, it's a bootleg.
The Finish: Real cards have a "linen" texture. If you hold them up to the light, you’ll see a subtle cross-hatch pattern. Fakes are usually dead flat and glossy.
Card Size: Counterfeiters often use standard poker card templates. Real CAH cards are 2.5 x 3.5 inches, but the weight and thickness are the giveaway. If the deck feels significantly thinner than a standard 600-card box should, it’s because the cardstock is too light.
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The "Everything Box" and Other Weirdness: Sometimes fakes are easy to spot because they offer things that don't exist. If you see a "Gold Edition" or a "Complete Collection" that includes every expansion ever made in one single, giant, branded box for $40, it’s 100% fake. CAH doesn't sell their expansions pre-bundled into the main game box like that.
Spelling Errors: This is the funniest one. Because many fakes are produced in non-English speaking regions, the box copy often has typos. I've seen boxes that say "A party game for horible people" or have weird punctuation on the back.
The Marketplace Problem
Amazon is a minefield. Even if you think you’re buying from a reputable spot, "commingled inventory" can screw you over. This is a system where Amazon stores products from different sellers in the same bin if they have the same barcode. If a bad actor sends fake decks into the warehouse, they might get mixed with real ones.
To avoid fake Cards Against Humanity on Amazon, always check the "Sold By" section. If it doesn't say "Sold by Cards Against Humanity and Fulfilled by Amazon," you’re taking a gamble.
The Moral and Practical Dilemma
Is it really a big deal if you buy a fake?
From a purely "playing the game" perspective, sure, the jokes are the same. A "Dick" joke is still a "Dick" joke even if it’s printed on crappy paper. But the CAH team is actually one of the "good guys" in the gaming world. They pay their staff well, they donate millions to charity (like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood), and they famously engage in stunts that critique consumerism.
Buying the real thing supports a company that actually creates the content. Plus, the fakes won't last. The edges will peel after three games. You'll end up buying the real one eventually anyway because the fake one feels gross to touch.
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What to Do If You Bought a Fake
If you realize you’ve been duped by a seller on a major platform, don't just eat the cost. Report it.
- Amazon: Open a return and select "Item is counterfeit or fake." This flags the seller's account.
- eBay: Use the "Money Back Guarantee." eBay is generally very aggressive about pulling down counterfeit listings once they are reported.
- PayPal: If you paid via PayPal, you can open a dispute for "Significantly Not As Described."
Honestly, the best way to ensure you aren't getting fake Cards Against Humanity is to buy directly from their site or a "Big Box" retailer like Target. They have exclusive distribution deals that make it nearly impossible for fakes to hit their shelves.
Identifying Real vs. Fake: Prose Comparison
Imagine two cards side-by-side. The real one is crisp. The black is deep, like a void, and the white text pops with a slight 3D quality from the high-quality ink. The corners are perfectly rounded by a professional die-cutter.
Now look at the fake. The black card looks like it was printed on a home inkjet that’s running low on toner. The corners are often jagged or unevenly rounded. When you stack the deck, the edges don't line up perfectly. It looks like a high school project. That’s the difference.
The Expansion Pack Trap
The "Blue Box," "Red Box," and "Green Box" expansions are the most common fakes. Counterfeiters love these because they are small and easy to ship. They often bundle all three for a "too good to be true" price. Real CAH expansions are sold individually for about $20 each. If you see all three for $15, you aren't getting a deal; you're getting a box of low-quality paper that will probably smell like a chemical spill.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now
If you are planning to buy the game or think you might have a bootleg, do this:
- Check the weight: A full, genuine CAH base set (600 cards) weighs roughly 2.3 to 2.5 pounds. Fakes are significantly lighter.
- The "Rub" Test: Rub your thumb firmly across the black card. On many fakes, the oils from your skin will actually cause the cheap ink to smudge or "cloud" almost immediately. Real cards are UV coated to prevent this.
- Inspect the Card Backs: Flip the cards over. On a real set, every single card back is identical. On fakes, you’ll often see "drift"—the logo might be slightly higher on some cards and lower on others because the cutting process was uncalibrated.
- Buy from Verified Sources: Stick to the official CAH website, the official CAH storefront on Amazon, or major retailers like Target and Kohl's.
Don't let a "cheap" deck ruin the vibe. There is nothing worse than being mid-game and having a guest ask, "Why are these cards so sticky?" or "Why does this card have a typo?" Stick to the real stuff. Your conscience—and your nose—will thank you.