Pokémon Card Craze Turns Collectors into Targets as Theft and Fraud Surge

The Pokémon trading card market, once a childhood pastime, has exploded into a multibillion-dollar asset class, with rare cards fetching millions of dollars. As the global trading card market is projected to reach $23.5 billion by 2030, the soaring values have attracted not only investors but also criminals. Incidents of theft, robbery, and sophisticated fraud schemes are on the rise, targeting collectors, stores, and auctions. Experts warn that the lack of regulation and the difficulty of tracing stolen cards make the hobby a fertile ground for crime.