FBI issues warning after fraudsters target New Jersey trading card shops
Federal agents noted a rise in physical thefts, smash-and-grab burglaries, and coordinated distractions.
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Federal authorities are warning small business owners and trading card retailers across New Jersey about a sophisticated fraud and burglary scheme targeting high-value collectibles.
FBI Newark issued a public alert detailing how criminal networks targeted at least seven collectible and trading card shops statewide between September 2025 and March 2026, causing significant financial losses.
According to federal agents, the fraudsters specifically seek rare trading cards and sports memorabilia due to their high resale potential.
Agents said the thieves often start by attempting to pay using a contactless mobile app on a phone. When the initial tap fails, the fraudster asks the store clerk to manually enter a credit card number into the terminal. The manually entered number belongs to a stolen or compromised card.
Because banks often take weeks to flag the fraudulent chargeback, the criminals use that delay to quickly resell the stolen collectibles online or on the black market before the retailer discovers the loss.
In other cases, thieves use specialized illegal phone applications that cycle through dozens of stolen credit card numbers automatically at the tap terminal until one gets approved.
Beyond digital fraud, federal agents noted a rise in physical thefts, smash-and-grab burglaries, and coordinated distractions.
In one instance highlighted by the FBI, a man distracted store clerks by attempting to sell a box of cards while an accomplice reached over the counter to steal high-end stock.
Authorities also warned that vendors leaving trade shows or collectible events are being targeted in armed robberies or followed home by criminals.
FBI Newark is urging all trading card vendors and shop owners to implement immediate physical and point-of-sale security measures:
Disable manual entry: Turn off manual credit card processing on card terminals if possible.
Verify ID: Require a matching government-issued photo ID for any manual card transactions.
Lock displays: Keep high-value inventory locked and secure cabinets immediately after every customer interaction.
Staff up & upgrade security: Keep multiple employees behind the counter to prevent distraction tactics, and install security cameras, door alarms, and panic buttons.
