Coraopolis Police Investigate Pokémon Chargeback Scam

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Police in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania are investigating a chargeback scam targeting a local gaming store, where suspects are using fraudulent credit cards to purchase high-value Pokémon merchandise and then disputing the charges to receive refunds while keeping the items. Authorities have identified one suspect, Mylen Hailey of Detroit, Michigan, who allegedly stole nearly $3,500 worth of Pokémon cards from a Coraopolis store last month through this method.

Why it matters

Chargeback scams like this can have a significant financial impact on small businesses, especially local gaming stores that rely on sales of collectible merchandise. The ability of suspects to easily obtain and resell valuable Pokémon cards through fraudulent means raises concerns about consumer protection and the vulnerability of the secondary market for rare trading cards.

The details

According to police, the suspects use stolen or fraudulent credit card information to purchase expensive Pokémon cards and other merchandise from local gaming stores. They then later dispute the charges with their banks, claiming the purchases were unauthorized, and receive refunds while keeping the items. In the case under investigation, the Coraopolis store owner did not learn of the chargeback until about a month after the fraudulent purchase, by which time the suspect and the merchandise were no longer traceable.

• Last month, Mylen Hailey allegedly used a fraudulent credit card to purchase nearly $3,500 worth of Pokémon merchandise from a Coraopolis gaming store.

What’s next

The investigation into the chargeback scam remains ongoing, and police are working to determine if there are any other suspects or victims involved.