Pokemon
A Philadelphia man has been arrested after police say he used fake cryptocurrency to steal a rare Pokemon card worth more than $24,000 during a sale at a police department.
According to Evesham Township Police, 26-year-old Christian Elam contacted a seller on Facebook Marketplace about buying a rare Poncho-Wearing Pikachu XY-P promo card.
The card, which features Pikachu dressed in an outfit resembling Mega Charizard X, was listed for sale at $24,200.
The seller and Elam agreed to meet at the Evesham Township Police Department Safe Exchange Zone in Marlton, New Jersey, on June 14 at around 6:30pm.
Safe Exchange Zones are designed to give buyers and sellers a safer place to complete online marketplace transactions, with police saying the area is well-lit and monitored by video.
However, investigators claim Elam appeared to send the seller $24,200 worth of cryptocurrency during the meetup, but the payment was later found to be counterfeit and had no real value.
The Pokemon Company
Cops say man pulled off Pokemon card scam at police headquarters
Despite the deal taking place at police headquarters, the seller later realized they had allegedly been scammed and contacted authorities.
Police said detectives used surveillance video from the exchange zone and parking lot to help identify Elam as the suspect.
According to NJ1015, investigators said automatic license plate readers also flagged Elam’s Volkswagen Jetta on the Betsy Ross Bridge shortly before and after the sale.
Facial recognition and a tattoo on Elam’s left arm were also cited as evidence linking him to the meeting.
Elam was arrested after returning from an overseas trip and taken to Burlington County Jail.
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He has been charged with second-degree computer-related theft and third-degree theft by deception.
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“The Evesham Township Police Department reminds residents that the ETPD Safe Exchange Zone is available for online marketplace transactions,” police said.
“While the zone provides a well-lit, video-monitored location for in-person exchanges, residents are reminded to independently verify payment before transferring property, especially when cryptocurrency, electronic payments, or high-value items are involved.”
This is just the latest in a series of Pokemon card crimes this summer. Earlier, a man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for robbing a store of nearly $21,000 in Pokemon cards.
Then, in July, two brothers from the UK admitted to stealing nearly $95,000 from shops that sell Pokemon cards and were caught after their getaway vehicle broke down.
