Metro Vancouver Collector Says He Lost Nearly $1 Million Buying Rare Pokémon Card Online

An online deal that went wrong

A Pokémon card collector in Metro Vancouver says he was scammed while trying to buy an extremely rare card online. He puts his loss at nearly $1 million.

The figure is his own account of what happened. Which currency it is in has not been stated, so it should not be read as a confirmed amount in either Canadian or US dollars.

No finding by police, a court or a grading company has been made public. Until one is, the scam remains an allegation made by the buyer.

What is not known

The details that would let collectors judge the case are missing. The card has not been identified, so its set, era, grade and artwork are unknown.

The seller has not been named, and neither has the platform where the deal took place. There is no indication yet of any police investigation or court action.

UltraBall has no sales or price data tied to this story, and because the card is unidentified, it cannot be matched to any sold comps.

Why it matters to collectors

The claim is a reminder of how much can ride on a single transaction at the top end of the hobby. When one card changes hands for a sum this large, the buyer's exposure rests on trust in the seller and the payment route.

Grails and chase cards at this level trade rarely, which leaves fewer public comps against which a buyer can check a deal. The collector's account does not say how the alleged scam was carried out, so no wider conclusion can be drawn from it yet.