A 25-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection with an alleged online scam involving the sale of Pokémon trading cards, which is believed to have caused losses exceeding SGD135,000 (~RM418,639).
According to police, the suspect allegedly posed as a seller offering pre-orders for rare and limited-edition Pokémon cards on the online marketplace Carousell. After receiving payments, he would either cut off communication or claim that deliveries had failed.
Payments were reportedly made through PayNow and bank transfers. Authorities said at least 35 police reports have been filed since October 2025 in relation to the scheme.
Following investigations, officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified the suspect and arrested him on 5 February.
The man is expected to be charged in court on 7 February. If convicted, he faces a potential jail term of up to 10 years, along with a fine.
Not the first case
Since 1 October, 2025, at least 609 cases linked to Pokémon trading card scams have been reported, with total financial losses reaching no less than SGD1.1 million (~RM3.4 million)
Those involved in such scams, including recruiters and members of organised scam syndicates, face severe penalties, including a minimum of six strokes of the cane, with the punishment extending to as many as 24 strokes.
In their advisory, police urged consumers to purchase collectibles only from authorised retailers or trusted sellers. They warned that unusually low prices are often a red flag for fraudulent activity.
What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments.
Also read: PDRM Officer Left Baffled After M’sian Woman Installs App to Buy Kuih & Loses RM5,000 to Scammers
