Japanese Criminals Using Pokémon Cards to “Wash Money”
After watching movies for a long time, we have certainly seen actors using high-value items for exchange, essentially turning them into cash in illegal transactions. This phenomenon previously existed only in the fictional realm, but it is now quite prevalent in Japan.
Specifically, the Japanese magazine Weekly Gendai recently reported on the situation of concentrated trading cards related to Pokémon, being used widely and for illicit purposes. They are utilized to conduct activities that “wash money,” exchanging their values in a seemingly “legal” manner in the current context.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game was first released in 1996. It is one of the products that has generated significant profits through the Pokémon brand and is among the best-selling trading card games worldwide. Recently, the value of Pokémon cards has reached unprecedented heights. Due to their high rarity, cash transactions, and most importantly, the lack of tracking, these “money washing” activities are being increasingly conducted through this form.
How Varied Are Pokémon Cards?
According to Weekly Gendai, approximately 64 types of Pokémon cards have been sold globally. In July 2021, a rare 25-year-old card was sold for 5.27 million USD (about 135 billion VND) in the United States, and the card transactions with such high prices are no longer uncommon.
To put it simply, the market for rare cards, rare collections, and trading has become a way to find these valuable trading cards without the need to open packs. The main reason is that rare cards at certain levels are usually covered with a layer of shiny metal. If there is specialized equipment, one could “shine” and see the value accumulation of the cards for trading illicitly.
Source: Weekly Gendai
