Blab Crypto
Philadelphia Man Charged After Fraudulent Crypto Purchase of $24,200 Pokemon Card in New Jersey
A 26‑year‑old Philadelphia man was arrested Monday after police discovered a fake cryptocurrency payment in a high‑stakes Pokémon card scam in Marlton, New Jersey.
Christian Elam arranged the sale on Facebook Marketplace and met the seller at the Evesham Township Police Department’s Safe Exchange Zone, a video‑monitored area in the police headquarters lobby. The transaction involved a rare Pokémon card that the seller valued at $24,200. A department statement posted on social media later revealed that the digital currency used for the payment was counterfeit.
Evesham Police said Elam faces third‑degree theft by deception and second‑degree computer‑related theft. He is being held in Burlington County Jail and is scheduled for a pre‑indictment hearing on August 26.
The Safe Exchange Zone is intended to provide a well‑lit, monitored location for in‑person exchanges of goods purchased online. Police urged residents to verify payments before handing over property, especially when cryptocurrency, electronic payments, or high‑value items are involved.
Cyber‑enabled crimes are on the rise across the United States. In 2025, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 1 million complaints—a 17 % increase from the previous year—with reported losses totaling nearly $21 billion. Cryptocurrency‑related crimes accounted for over 181,000 complaints and losses exceeding $11 billion.
Evesham’s program is part of a broader trend of local law‑enforcement agencies offering secure meeting places for online marketplace transactions. Similar programs exist in other New Jersey municipalities, such as the South Toms River Police Department.
Evesham Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, is located in Burlington County and is known locally as Marlton. The township’s population was 46,826 in 2020, and it is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Burlington County, the largest by land area in New Jersey, had a population of 461,860 as of the 2020 census, with Mount Holly as its county seat where the jail holds Elam.
The case illustrates how the anonymity and speed of cryptocurrency can be exploited in fraud schemes, even in a setting designed to reduce risk. Police officials noted that while the Safe Exchange Zone can mitigate certain types of theft, it does not eliminate the possibility of digital payment fraud.
Elam’s charges carry potential penalties under Pennsylvania law. Third‑degree theft by deception is a felony that can result in up to ten years in prison, while second‑degree computer‑related theft is also a felony with similar sentencing ranges.
The pre‑indictment hearing on August 26 will determine whether the prosecution will file formal charges. Until then, Elam remains in custody.
The incident underscores the need for continued public education about the risks of cryptocurrency transactions, especially for high‑value items. It also highlights the importance of law‑enforcement collaboration with community programs designed to provide safe transaction venues.
For now, the case remains pending, with the outcome of the upcoming hearing yet to be announced. The broader trend of increasing crypto‑related fraud continues to prompt law‑enforcement agencies to refine their strategies for protecting consumers.
Christian Elam arranged the sale on Facebook Marketplace and met the seller at the Evesham Township Police Department’s Safe Exchange Zone, a video‑monitored area in the police headquarters lobby. The transaction involved a rare Pokémon card that the seller valued at $24,200. A department statement posted on social media later revealed that the digital currency used for the payment was counterfeit.
Evesham Police said Elam faces third‑degree theft by deception and second‑degree computer‑related theft. He is being held in Burlington County Jail and is scheduled for a pre‑indictment hearing on August 26.
The Safe Exchange Zone is intended to provide a well‑lit, monitored location for in‑person exchanges of goods purchased online. Police urged residents to verify payments before handing over property, especially when cryptocurrency, electronic payments, or high‑value items are involved.
Cyber‑enabled crimes are on the rise across the United States. In 2025, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 1 million complaints—a 17 % increase from the previous year—with reported losses totaling nearly $21 billion. Cryptocurrency‑related crimes accounted for over 181,000 complaints and losses exceeding $11 billion.
Evesham’s program is part of a broader trend of local law‑enforcement agencies offering secure meeting places for online marketplace transactions. Similar programs exist in other New Jersey municipalities, such as the South Toms River Police Department.
Evesham Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, is located in Burlington County and is known locally as Marlton. The township’s population was 46,826 in 2020, and it is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Burlington County, the largest by land area in New Jersey, had a population of 461,860 as of the 2020 census, with Mount Holly as its county seat where the jail holds Elam.
The case illustrates how the anonymity and speed of cryptocurrency can be exploited in fraud schemes, even in a setting designed to reduce risk. Police officials noted that while the Safe Exchange Zone can mitigate certain types of theft, it does not eliminate the possibility of digital payment fraud.
Elam’s charges carry potential penalties under Pennsylvania law. Third‑degree theft by deception is a felony that can result in up to ten years in prison, while second‑degree computer‑related theft is also a felony with similar sentencing ranges.
The pre‑indictment hearing on August 26 will determine whether the prosecution will file formal charges. Until then, Elam remains in custody.
The incident underscores the need for continued public education about the risks of cryptocurrency transactions, especially for high‑value items. It also highlights the importance of law‑enforcement collaboration with community programs designed to provide safe transaction venues.
For now, the case remains pending, with the outcome of the upcoming hearing yet to be announced. The broader trend of increasing crypto‑related fraud continues to prompt law‑enforcement agencies to refine their strategies for protecting consumers.
