A man walked out of a Massachusetts trading card shop with thousands of dollars in Pokémon collectibles after paying with what police say was a fraudulent credit card.
The merchandise was valued at $13,400, according to Raynham Police. Investigators say the transaction involved five high-value Pokémon cards, including a Magikarp valued at $4,300 and a Bubble Mew valued at $3,200.
But the store’s warning about the transaction quickly traveled beyond Massachusetts. The following day, a card shop in Manchester, New Hampshire, saw a man matching the suspect’s description attempting to purchase more Pokémon cards and contacted police.
That encounter led investigators to Chencai Xie, 41, of Fresh Meadows, New York. Raynham Police later obtained a warrant charging him with credit card fraud over $1,200 and larceny over $1,200.
The Purchase Included Several High-Value Pokémon Cards
Raynham officers responded to the local card business around 7:37 p.m. on Aug. 5 after receiving a report that a customer had used a fraudulent credit card.
Police listed five cards connected to the transaction: a Bubble Mew valued at $3,200, a Jolteon V worth $1,300, a Shining Mew valued at $1,450, a Magikarp worth $4,300 and a Blastoise valued at $1,250.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and obtained a description of the buyer, who police said was wearing a black hat, a black T-shirt with a dog on it and a black cross-body bag. Officers also obtained information about the white Mercedes-Benz he used to leave the business.
The Shop’s Warning Reached Another State
The case moved quickly because information about the transaction did not remain inside the original store. On Aug. 6, a card shop in Manchester learned about the suspected fraud through the Raynham business’s social-media warning.
Staff there contacted Raynham Police after a man matching the description entered their store and attempted to purchase Pokémon cards. Raynham investigators contacted the Manchester Police Department, whose officers stopped the man and identified him as Xie.
Investigators reported two additional details linking Xie to the previous day’s transaction. Police said Xie was driving the same white Mercedes-Benz seen during the Raynham transaction.
Investigators later determined that the vehicle was a rental. Police also said he was wearing the same clothing seen in the Raynham store’s surveillance footage the previous day.
The Original Pokémon Cards Are Still Missing
Raynham Police obtained an arrest warrant through Taunton District Court charging Xie with credit card fraud over $1,200 and larceny over $1,200. The Pokémon cards from the Raynham business have not been recovered, according to police.
Xie is expected to be arraigned in Taunton District Court at a later date. The charges remain accusations, and Xie is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
High-Value Purchases Can Be a Fraud Warning Sign
For businesses selling expensive, easily resold merchandise such as collectible cards, an approved card transaction does not necessarily eliminate fraud risk. Visa’s fraud-prevention guidance recommends monitoring transactions for unusual activity, including sudden high-value purchases, and using fraud-detection and authentication tools to identify suspicious transactions before losses occur.
Retailers should follow the fraud-verification procedures provided by their payment processor or card network when a transaction raises concerns. Preserving receipts, transaction records and surveillance footage can also give investigators useful evidence if suspected fraud is later reported.
Cardholders have a different concern, discovering that their card information has been used without permission. The Federal Trade Commission recommends reporting a lost, stolen or fraudulently used card to the issuing bank or credit union immediately and reviewing statements for other transactions that are not recognized.
If unauthorized card use appears to be part of broader identity theft, victims can use IdentityTheft.gov to report the theft and receive a recovery plan. Acting quickly can help stop additional charges and identify whether the stolen financial information has been used elsewhere.