Covid swindled $ 58,000 to help buy a Pokemon card

The speculation bubble surrounding these game cards gives ideas … but if taken in the bag, a Georgia resident faces up to 20 years in prison …

Government aid scams abound during the Govt crisis. But the purpose of these scams is sometimes baroque. So one of the American enthusiasts on Pokemon cards, wanting to take advantage of the speculation bubble surrounding these items, began to put together a false case to get federal help for companies in trouble due to the health crisis.

According to the British newspaper Telegraph, A resident of the state of Georgia, cheated the authorities, lied about his company profile (number of employees, fall in turnover) and received less than $ 85,000 in assistance.

Not one or two, he spends a good portion of this amount ($ 57,789) to buy a Pokemon card, which is the tenth largest transaction in history for this type of item.

Speculation bubble

However, the maneuver did not escape the federal authorities who leveled allegations of electronic fraud against Vinod Odoms. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine.

Twenty-five years after its inception, the Pokemon Saga, created by the Japanese company Nintendo, continues to appeal to young and old alike. The success of the license – one of the most lucrative in the world – comes in cartoons with adorable monsters, including video games and the famous picnic, which show no signs of exhaustion.

What is needed in these maps: Condition and version. New and original card, prices very dizzying. On February 22, a Charizard card sold for $ 509,969, or 8 418,000, in the United States. An achievement.

The truth is, for many experts, this explosion is more or less a speculation bubble organized by some auction houses. An event that can be seen in the retro video games of the 80s … The Mario 64 cartridge sold for over $ 1.5 million this summer. Never seen.