There is no need to backup the Rom = .gba to backup the save = .sav file
Sometimes bootlegs will incorporate the save into the .gba. So, in order to get the .sav, you would need to dump the rom and boot it up with an emulator and then save to create the .sav.
Pretty much given up on returning something if its fake or not. If its real, I hit Jackpot, and the backup is not necessary. If its fake, I can alway backup the save, and edit it with PKHex.
They're a fairly recent phenomenon. They use flash instead of SRAM, a small portion of the flash memory is dedicated to the save file and most save/rom dumpers can't see this configuration properly.
IIRC someone posted here semi-recently about a GBA Minish Cap bootleg that had the save embedded in the ROM, though that one wouldn't save. It came with a save already on it and any time you rebooted it was reset back to the original condition. Reminded me a bit of some creepypasta BEN
That's probably because it's using a different save type, it should be possible to convert the save though. If a tool doesn't exist for it, load the bootleg ROM in an emulator, make a save state, load the save state in the unmodded ROM then save. Should work if they didn't make so many changes to the ROM that the save state is incompatible.
Dumping the ROM won't normally dump the save unless the save is actually embedded in the ROM (which I believe is still rare)
You need to use an hex editor to paste the save into the rom file but it should be at the right spot.
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