Three people have been arrested in Tokyo after allegedly tricking a collector into handing over three rare Pokémon cards by passing off bundles of paper as cash.
How the scheme worked
Police say the incident happened at a hotel in Chiyoda Ward. The suspects met the collector through an acquaintance and planned to buy three rare cards valued at around 51 million yen, about $320,000.
The suspects reportedly built trust by first showing a small amount of real money. After that, they handed over a bag that was supposed to contain the rest of the payment. The buyer only realized something was wrong after the exchange, when the bag turned out to be filled with bundles of paper made to look like bills.
Who was arrested
- Toru Morino, 38
- Jun Takemura, 54
- Eiji Koda, 52
All three have been arrested on suspicion of fraud. Reports say one suspect has remained silent, while the others are denying involvement.
Why this matters
High-value trading of Pokémon cards has drawn criminal attention in recent years because some collectibles fetch very large sums. Police and collectors warn that deals involving significant amounts of cash and in-person exchanges carry greater risk.
Other incidents involving Pokémon cards
- In 2022, a collector in France was robbed at gunpoint of a collection worth about $15,000.
- Also in 2022, an elderly man lost a collection valued at about $500,000 from waterfront property.
- Earlier in 2026, a store in New York City reported that three gunmen stole around $116,000 in Pokémon cards. So far only the alleged getaway driver has been charged in that case.
As prices for rare collectibles rise, schemes like this one are likely to continue. This incident is a reminder that fraudsters will use simple but convincing methods to try to pull off large scams.
If you are buying or selling high-value items, taking steps such as using secure payment methods, meeting in public or supervised spaces, and verifying funds before completing a handover can reduce risk.
