The FBI is investigating a series of thefts targeting Pokémon trading card shops across New Jersey, where criminals allegedly used stolen credit card information to purchase valuable collectibles and leave businesses with thousands of dollars in losses.

Federal investigators said seven stores were targeted between September 2025 and March 2026. Some retailers lost tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise as thieves took advantage of payment processing procedures that allowed fraudulent transactions to appear legitimate at first.

According to the FBI's Newark field office, the scheme typically begins when a customer attempts to pay by tapping a cellphone against a store's contactless payment terminal. When the transaction fails, the individual asks the cashier to manually enter a credit card number into the payment system. The number is allegedly connected to a stolen or compromised credit card, allowing the purchase to proceed.

The problem is that retailers often do not discover the fraud immediately. The transactions may initially appear successful, with stores sometimes waiting several weeks before learning that the payment was unauthorized or had been disputed. By that point, the criminals have already walked away with the cards and may have resold them for substantial profits.

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blanchfield warned that criminals are specifically targeting expensive trading cards because of their high resale value.

“What they are doing is, they're using fraudulent credit cards to accomplish that,” Blanchfield said.

Investigators are also examining the use of specialized cellphone applications allegedly connected to criminal networks. According to reporting by NJ.com, the applications can store multiple stolen credit card numbers and cycle through them at a payment terminal until one of the transactions is approved.

Several New Jersey businesses have been identified in connection with the broader investigation, including Liquid Games in Ocean Township, Peninsula Games in Long Branch and Cardboard Colosseum in South Amboy. One transaction at Liquid Games reportedly resulted in approximately $2,000 in merchandise being taken, while a store in Howell suffered losses of around $10,000.

The investigation comes amid a growing wave of thefts involving valuable Pokémon collectibles. The cards have become increasingly sought after by collectors, with rare editions and professionally graded cards sometimes selling for thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Their relatively small size and high resale value make them attractive targets for organized thieves.

The FBI has also warned retailers about physical robberies and coordinated distraction tactics. In one reported incident, a suspect attempted to distract store employees by offering to sell them a box of trading cards while an accomplice reached over the counter and grabbed additional merchandise.

The threat has extended beyond storefronts. Vendors attending trading card conventions and collectible events have also been targeted, including incidents in which sellers were allegedly followed after leaving events or robbed outside venues.

In one particularly costly incident in Woodbridge, New Jersey, a father and son who had attended a trading card show were robbed of approximately $150,000 worth of Pokémon cards and $12,000 in cash in a hotel parking lot.

Federal investigators are urging collectible shop owners to strengthen security procedures to prevent additional losses. The FBI recommends disabling manual credit card entry whenever possible or requiring customers to provide government-issued photo identification when a card number must be entered by hand.

Retailers are also being advised to keep expensive cards inside locked display cases, install surveillance cameras and door alarms, and ensure employees are watching for suspicious behavior or coordinated distractions. The agency has additionally recommended installing panic buttons to help employees respond to potential robberies.

No arrests had been announced in connection with the seven-store fraud investigation as of the latest reports. Authorities are continuing to examine the cases and determine whether the incidents are connected to a larger criminal network.