The waffle pattern on back going all the way to the edge (no empty boarder) is starting to seem more hit/miss. Although I think if all the other signs are present this one lends itself well to supports a pin being a fake/scrapper/POC.
A few other suggestions to consider (to supplement
@OpieDoodle 's list):
- the weight of the pin. There is a heft to real pins. If the pin feels light, this is not a good sign. (Note: when the pin is small, this check is pretty much N/A... small PTDs from DSSH can feel very light... I have bought PTDs direct from the store in Hollywood which feel too light. Some of the small hidden disney/mickey pins are too small for this check... villain ties, Fab 5 in space are two HM sets I can think of where weight is a tough criteria to check.)
- thin pin. fakes are not as thick as real-deal pins.
- the edges are rough/not smooth.
The three tests above are now a habit for me when I trade in the parks. The more pins you experience the easier it will be to identify the fakes.
Finally, if you like the pin and want it for your collection. Don't spend too much time being concerned about it being a fake. Just enjoy the pin!
(Note: taking this attitude works best for low value trading. It gets rougher when you start trading higher value pins to end up with a fake/scrapper/etc.)
Final suggestion... definitely trade real pins in the parks, but buy discounted real pins from reliable sources (cost for these real but discounted traders is usually $1-$3/pin on average). This way if you end up with a fake/scrapper by accident (or design)... you didn't lose too much value in the trade.
Note: Loungefly.com currently has a couple of their pin sets on clearance. 4 pins in a set for $7.50... this is under $2/park trader. If you buy them with an additional discount during a sale on the web site, the price will drop even more. (ie, additional 20% off or buy 2 get one free deals that periodically pop up.)