Two individuals from Washington state, Anthony Curcio, 43, and Iosif Bondarchuk, 37, have found themselves in deep trouble for their fraudulent activities involving sports and Pokémon cards. This dynamic duo has been hit with charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, trampling over the trust of unsuspecting buyers who fell victim to their scam.
Their swindling ways came to light when it was discovered that they were engaged in a scheme to peddle off fake graded sports and Pokémon cards to unsuspecting individuals, raking in a whopping $2 million in ill-gotten gains. Among the impressive inventory of fraudulent items they tried to pass off was an iconic gem mint 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card that was auctioned for a jaw-dropping $171,000, showcasing the audacity of their deceit.
Over a period between 2022 and May 2024, Curcio and Bondarchuk went the extra mile to dupe buyers by deceitfully swapping out lower-grade cards into holders that inaccurately presented them as top-tier PSA 10 specimens, inflating their market value to hoodwink unsuspecting collectors. Their deception didn’t stop at sports cards alone, as they also extended their con to include rare Pokémon cards, with a first-edition Venusaur card being fraudulently labeled as a PSA 10 and sold for $10,500 to an undercover officer.
The elaborate con job didn’t just depend on online marketplaces; these individuals peddled their mischievous scheme at physical venues as well, including card shops, shows, and online auctions. To add insult to injury, when confronted by disgruntled buyers questioning the authenticity of their purchases, Bondarchuk resorted to further deception by providing false contact information, attempting to divert blame to unrelated parties.
The consequences of their actions are dire, as if found guilty, both individuals could be staring at a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. The FBI and PSA’s Brand Protection division didn’t waste any time teaming up to investigate the case, showcasing their commitment to safeguarding collectors and upholding the integrity of the card trading market.
This cautionary tale serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the collectibles market. It’s a glaring beacon to any would-be scammers out there contemplating similar deceptive tactics, warning them of the severe repercussions that await those who try to pull the wool over the eyes of passionate collectors. In a realm where trust and authenticity are paramount, actions like these only serve to reinforce the collective resolve to uphold the sanctity of the trading card industry.
