The Pokémon Trading Card Game boom has attracted more than collectors—it has also attracted scammers.
The Pokémon Company warns that fake online stores and counterfeit cards often lure buyers with prices so low they make a first-edition Charizard look like a clearance item. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably belongs to Team Rocket.¹
The risks are real. The cards may not be.
In 2024, U.S. federal prosecutors charged two men in an alleged $2 million scheme involving counterfeit and fraudulently graded sports and Pokémon cards.² Before clicking “Buy Now,” check seller reviews, use payment methods with buyer protection, and remember: the only fake Pokémon you should collect is Ditto—not a website pretending to sell booster boxes.
References:
Pokémon Support. Did I purchase fake or counterfeit cards? https://support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002068953-Did-I-purchase-fake-or-counterfeit-cards
U.S. federal prosecutors’ 2024 counterfeit trading card case (reported by multiple news outlets), involving an alleged $2 million fraud scheme.