Pokemon Card Seller, 24, Arrested for S$69,000 Scam on Telegram
Singapore Police have arrested another Pokemon trading card scammer — a 24-year-old man suspected of cheating victims out of more than S$69,000 through fraudulent pre-order sales on Telegram.
This marks the second arrest in just one week related to Pokemon card scams, following the February 5 arrest of a 25-year-old man linked to S$135,000 in losses on Carousell.
The Telegram Scam
Since December 2025, police received 21 reports from victims who were allegedly cheated by a seller advertising pre-order sales of Pokemon trading cards on Telegram.
The scam followed a familiar pattern:
- The seller posted pre-order listings for Pokemon trading cards on Telegram
- Victims made payments via PayNow or bank transfer
- After receiving payments, the seller would either become uncontactable or give excuses for delivery delays
- Products were never delivered
Court Charges
The man was charged in court on February 11, 2026 with the offence of cheating. The offence carries:
- Imprisonment of up to 10 years
- A possible fine
- For scam syndicate members: mandatory caning of at least six strokes, up to 24 strokes
Growing Pattern of Pokemon Card Fraud
This arrest is part of a troubling trend in Singapore's trading card community:
| Timeline | Cases | Total Losses |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Dec 2025 | 477 cases | S$958,000 |
| Feb 7, 2026 | 609 cases | S$1.1 million |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Additional arrests ongoing | Losses continue to grow |
The rapid escalation from 477 to 609+ cases in just two months shows how quickly these scams are spreading, particularly targeting collectors excited about new Pokemon set releases.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Based on these recent cases, here are the key red flags:
1. Telegram or WhatsApp-only sellers — Legitimate sellers typically use established marketplaces
2. Pre-order deposits required before any product is shipped
3. PayNow or bank transfer only — No buyer protection available
4. Too-good-to-be-true pricing on limited-edition or unreleased products
5. Excuses about delivery delays after payment is collected
6. Sellers who become uncontactable after receiving money
How TCG.SG Keeps You Safe
Unlike private Telegram channels, TCG.SG provides a structured, safer environment for buying and selling trading cards:
- Seller verification through linked accounts and transaction history
- AI fraud detection that automatically flags suspicious listings
- Community reporting to quickly identify bad actors
- Price benchmarking to spot unrealistic pricing
- On-platform messaging so all communications are logged
For scam-related concerns, contact the ScamShield Helpline at 1799 or visit [scamshield.gov.sg](https://www.scamshield.gov.sg/).