A Philadelphia man was arrested after police said he used a fraudulent cryptocurrency payment to obtain a rare Pokémon card worth $24,200 during a Facebook Marketplace transaction in New Jersey.
The suspect was identified as Christian Elam, 26, of Philadelphia, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia.
Evesham Township police said the seller arranged the high-value card sale through Facebook Marketplace and met the buyer inside the department’s Safe Exchange Zone at police headquarters in Marlton.
Elam is being held in Burlington County Jail pending court proceedings.
The Deal Happened Inside a Police Safe Exchange Zone
The seller used the Evesham Township Police Department’s Safe Exchange Zone for the sale. Police said the zone is inside the lobby of police headquarters at 984 Tuckerton Road and is open 24 hours a day.
Even with the exchange taking place at police headquarters, the payment still turned out to be fraudulent. Police said the buyer paid with cryptocurrency that was later determined to be fake.
The Pokémon Card Was Worth $24,200
The seller transferred the card after the cryptocurrency payment appeared to complete. Police later determined that the payment was fraudulent, leaving the seller without the card or the money.
After investigating the report, Evesham police identified Elam as the suspect. He was charged with third-degree theft by deception and second-degree computer-related theft.
Police said Evesham officers coordinated with Homeland Security during the investigation. Elam was taken into custody after returning to the United States from overseas, according to News 12 New Jersey.
Police Said Sellers Still Need to Verify Payment First
Evesham police reminded residents that their Safe Exchange Zone is well-lit and monitored, but department staff do not participate in private transactions, witness deals, or provide legal advice. The department also warned residents to verify payment before transferring property, especially when a sale involves cryptocurrency, electronic payments, or expensive collectibles.
For high-value marketplace sales, sellers should not rely only on a screenshot, a pending transaction, a wallet image, or a buyer’s claim that crypto has been sent. The payment should be confirmed through the seller’s own account or wallet before the item changes hands.
Anyone who believes they were targeted in a fake marketplace payment should preserve messages, usernames, wallet addresses, transaction screenshots, listing details, payment records, and meeting-location information. Reports can be made to local police, the marketplace platform, the payment or crypto platform involved, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.