Police Seize 1,000 Playing cards In Pokémon Counterfeiting Bust

The crackdown on counterfeit Pikachus and Charizards continues. Earlier this week, an investigation by police in Annaka Metropolis, Japan led them to a haul of 1,000 playing cards believed to be faux, together with Pokémon buying and selling card sport merchandise. The 21-year-outdated suspect they allegedly belonged to had been caught promoting a couple of of them final 12 months for a whole lot every.

As first noticed by the Pokémon buying and selling card fansite PokéBeach, Japanese information retailers reported that police have been tipped off to the alleged haul of counterfeit playing cards by a previous purchaser. The person allegedly bought 4 faux Pokémon playing cards to 2 prospects in October 2022, incomes about $1,250 whole within the course of. The shoppers realized one thing was off, nevertheless, and ultimately contacted police.

That’s when Nintendo apparently received concerned. Media studies say police requested the Mario maker to appraise the playing cards throughout its investigation. When Nintendo confirmed the playing cards have been counterfeit, the investigation brough regulation enforcement to the suspect’s dwelling the place they found 1,000 faux playing cards, 400 of which have been from the Pokémon buying and selling card sport.

The counterfeits included each Japanese and English copies, starting from authentic 151 set Mewtwos to extremely coveted full-art rainbow Charizards from Solar and Moon’s Burning Shadows growth. Whereas the person was apparently promoting them on-line, police nonetheless aren’t certain who he received them from or the place they have been printed.

Creatures Inc., an organization which partially owns Pokémon, introduced final month that it might be working with on-line marketplaces to crack down on counterfeit card gross sales. “The manufacturing and sale of those merchandise for the aim of revenue interferes with the traditional provision of Pokémon card sport services and products, and we’ll take measures to droop gross sales and take authorized motion in cooperation with the working firm of the gross sales service platform,” the corporate wrote on its web site. “We’re continuing with response, investigation, and consideration.”