Fake Tarot Decks: A Tarot Reader’s Perspective from Wellington NZ
A Tarot Reader's Perspective on Protecting Tarot Creators
Fake tarot decks are becoming increasingly common across online marketplaces, and many buyers do not realise they have purchased a counterfeit until something feels wrong. As a professional tarot reader based in Wellington, New Zealand, and a long-time collector of tarot decks, I have spent years observing how these counterfeit copies circulate and how they affect the artists and publishers who create authentic decks.
Tarot readers, collectors, and beginners alike deserve to understand how fake tarot decks appear, why they exist, and how to recognise the warning signs before making a purchase.
On my Zammtopia.Official YouTube channel, where I've featured over 200 tarot decks across the past five years, I receive an increasing number of requests asking me to share the little white book (LWB) of decks viewers have purchased without a guidebook.
My answer has always been—and will remain—no.
If a tarot deck is missing its guidebook, it is not an original copy.
Sharing or reproducing that content is unfair to the tarot artist and publisher, and contributes directly to the growing problem of counterfeit tarot decks.
Tarot is a living tradition — and like any living tradition, it survives only when creators are respected, buyers are informed, and readers act with integrity.
Why I Refuse to Share Missing Tarot Guidebooks
I speak from both experience and personal investment. I am the creator of the Zamm Tarot Digital Deck and Guidebook, and I understand firsthand the labour involved in producing a complete tarot deck:
- Designing all 78 cards
- Writing and structuring a meaningful guidebook
- Editing, publishing, and distributing ethically
Even before creating my own deck, I knew how devastating it would feel to see creative work pirated, copied, or resold illegally.
When a tarot deck is sold without its LWB—often replaced by a QR code—it is a clear admission that the deck is unauthorised. Sharing or reposting that content continues the cycle of exploitation.
Loving tarot does not permit us to harm the people who create it.
The Moral and Ethical Problem with Fake Tarot Decks
Counterfeit tarot decks are not just a "cheap alternative." They are the result of stolen artwork, copied text, and mass‑produced shortcuts that:
- Steal income from tarot creators
- Undermine independent artists and small publishers
- Lower the quality and integrity of tarot as a spiritual tool
Yes, I've personally spent thousands of US dollars over the years building a tarot collection — including many decks that are now out of print and truly collectable.
But when my priorities changed, and I could no longer afford to keep buying decks, I stopped.
That choice was wise, practical, and ethical.
What I would never do is knowingly support fake tarot decks. Beyond the questionable quality, it simply isn't right.
How to Spot a Fake Tarot Deck (Beyond the Obvious Red Flags)
Counterfeit tarot decks have become increasingly sophisticated. While some warning signs are obvious, others only become apparent when you understand how legitimate decks are created, published, and distributed. Over time, patterns emerge — and once you've seen enough real decks, the fakes begin to stand out immediately.
QR Codes in Place of a Guidebook
A genuine tarot deck is sold as a complete work. That includes the cards and a thoughtfully written guidebook, whether small or substantial. When a deck replaces this with a QR code, it is not offering convenience — it is avoiding detection of copyright infringement.
Creators are not distributing their intellectual property freely via unprotected links. A QR code is often used precisely because the seller lacks the legal right to print or include the text. In other words, its absence is not accidental; it is intentional.
Prices That Undercut
Tarot decks are not inexpensive to produce. Between artwork, writing, editing, printing, licensing, and distribution, legitimate decks have real costs. When a brand‑new deck is sold at a fraction of its standard retail price, something has been removed from the process — and that "something" is usually ethical production.
Deep discounts are not generosity; they are often the first sign of stolen work.
Cardstock, Size, and Sensory Clues
One of the most overlooked indicators of a counterfeit tarot deck is how it feels in your hands. Fake decks are frequently printed on thinner cardstock, cut smaller than standard sizing, or finished with coatings that feel plasticky or inconsistent.
Colours may appear dull, muddy, or strangely oversaturated. Linework can look slightly blurred, as though it has been copied rather than printed from original files. These details matter — tarot is a tactile, visual tool, and degradation in quality affects both usability and longevity.
Missing or Vague Publisher Information
Authentic decks clearly credit their creators. You should be able to identify the artist, the author, the publisher, and standard publishing details such as an ISBN or barcode.
Counterfeit decks often obscure this information, replace it with generic names, or omit it entirely. This lack of transparency is not an oversight; it is a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability.
Packaging That Doesn't Match the Deck's Origin
Packaging tells a story. Flimsy boxes, missing barcodes, or manufacturing labels that conflict with the deck's known publisher are all warning signs. While many legitimate decks are printed in China, counterfeit listings often rely on this fact to excuse inconsistencies — but context matters.
When multiple elements feel "toggle, misaligned, or cheaply assembled, trust your instincts.
Where Fake Tarot Decks Are Most Common — and Why
Counterfeit tarot decks thrive in online marketplaces designed for speed, volume, and minimal oversight. Platforms that prioritise low prices and rapid listings unintentionally create ideal conditions for intellectual property theft.
Discount‑driven sites and unverified third‑party sellers often lack meaningful checks on originality, allowing copied decks to circulate freely. Even large platforms can become problematic when buyers assume that visibility equals legitimacy.
By contrast, creators and reputable retailers stake their reputation on authenticity. They provide clear sourcing, consistent pricing, and accurate product descriptions — because they have nothing to hide.
Choosing where you buy tarot decks is not just a financial decision; it is an ethical one.
What If You've Already Bought a Fake Tarot Deck?
Many people discover they own a counterfeit tarot deck only after the fact — and that discovery often comes with discomfort or regret. If that happens, self‑blame isn't helpful. Awareness is.
If returning the deck is possible, do so, and report the seller for distributing counterfeit goods. This helps prevent further harm to creators and protects future buyers.
As for whether to use the deck, opinions vary. Some readers view the cards as neutral objects once purchased; others — myself included — choose not to use decks that represent stolen labour. Neither position requires judgment, but it does require honesty about impact.
What matters most is what you do next — the choices you make from now on, and the standards you choose to uphold.
Ethical Tarot Reading Matters
Whether you are a collector, a student of tarot, or someone seeking a tarot reading, ethics quietly shape how tarot evolves — and how it is experienced.
Every tarot deck carries the imprint of human effort: the artist's vision, the writer's words, the publisher's commitment to bringing the work into the world responsibly. When those contributions are respected, tarot remains a living, meaningful tradition rather than a disposable commodity.
As a professional tarot reader in Wellington, NZ, and someone who offers online tarot readings to a global audience, I see firsthand how integrity affects the quality of a reading. Ethical choices — from the decks we use to the way we source them — influence not only the physical tools, but the trust between reader and querent. If you're curious about how I approach tarot in practice, you can read more about my tarot reading approach here.
Tarot reading is not simply about interpreting symbols on cards. It is an exchange of energy, intention, and attention. When the tools themselves are rooted in stolen labour or unethical production, that imbalance is felt, even if it cannot always be named.
Ethical tarot is about awareness. It is about choosing authenticity where possible, pausing when something feels wrong, and recognising that our individual decisions collectively shape the future of tarot.
Tarot is more than cards but also respect for creators, for seekers, and for the tradition itself.
Explore My Work
Ethical tarot is not an abstract ideal — it is something practised, choice by choice, deck by deck, and interaction by interaction.
Everything I create and offer is rooted in that understanding. You can explore my online tarot readings or learn more about my work through the resources I've created below.
🌙 The Zamm Tarot Digital Deck & Guidebook
The Zamm Tarot is a complete, creator‑owned tarot system designed with intention, clarity, and respect for the creative process. From the artwork to the guidebook, every element was developed ethically and released as a unified whole — without shortcuts, substitutions, or compromises.
This deck is for readers who value authenticity, depth, and a conscious relationship with their tarot tools.
📘 Discover the Inner Workings of Our Worlds — Book 2
For those drawn to deeper exploration, Discover the Inner Workings of Our Worlds continues the work of reflection, awareness, and personal insight. It is written for readers who understand that growth requires honesty, responsibility, and engagement—not surface-level answers.
📕 Also Available the Intuition Foundations Collection
- Book 1: Intuition
- Book 2: Zamm Tarot
- Companion Workbook for Book 1
Each resource is created with care, integrity, and respect for both the reader and the tradition it draws from.
Working With Me
As a professional tarot reader in Wellington, NZ, I also offer online tarot readings to clients worldwide. My readings are grounded, ethical, and focused on empowerment—not dependency.
The same principles that guide my stance on counterfeit tarot decks guide my work with clients:
- respect for the tools
- respect for the seeker
- respect for the process
If you value tarot that is practised with intention, awareness, and integrity, you are welcome here.
Supporting ethical tarot — whether through the decks you choose, the readers you work with, or the creators you support — helps ensure that tarot remains a living, meaningful tradition rather than a disposable product.
Tarot deserves care.
Creators deserve respect.
And seekers deserve honesty.
Final Thoughts
It takes one conscious decision after another to slow the spread of counterfeit tarot decks.
Choosing authenticity — in the decks we buy, the readings we seek, and the creators we support — protects the future of tarot itself.
No matter how you approach it, supporting fake tarot decks is morally and ethically wrong.
Let's do better — for tarot, for artists, and for ourselves.