A sophisticated fraud ring is targeting high-end trading card shops across the country, leaving owners empty-handed and out tens of thousands in inventory.
According to a police report filed by Ryan Van Oost, co-owner of CardsHQ, a group of thieves has been running a "repetitious" Apple Pay scam since late 2024, with total losses estimated at $20,000.
Ryan Van Oost
The suspects—reportedly a group of men in their 30s and 40s—start by building trust.
They’ll sell a few cards to the shop first, creating the appearance of a legitimate deal.
Once the ice is broken, they cherry-pick the most valuable cards in the store and head to the register.
CardsHQ Owners
How the Scam Works: The ring exploits a technical "blind spot" in the settlement process.
Using stolen credit card data provisioned into an Apple Wallet, the suspects "tap" to pay. The transaction initially shows as Approved, giving the thieves time to reach their vehicles.
However, they immediately use a script or banking app to report the transaction as "unauthorized."
This triggers an Authorization Reversal (Void) before the merchant's daily batch settles, effectively pulling the funds back while the suspects vanish with the sports cards.
The damage is widespread in Georgia, with Win Condition Games in Kennesaw also reporting similar activity.
Small business owners are less likely to have advanced "Risk Scoring" software that flagship retail stores use to flag suspicious Apple Pay transactions.
For shop owners, the lesson is clear: Apple Pay is no longer a "safe" bet.
