The Pokémon TCG community was shaken this week when news broke that scalpers had targeted the upcoming Phantasmal Flames expansion. Reports say that at least 42,000 products were scooped up by bots before fans even had a chance to buy them.
Here’s what happened, how The Pokémon Company responded, and what it means for collectors and players.
Scalpers Strike Early
A Discord group called “Hidden Society” claimed responsibility. Using bots, they exploited Pokémon Center’s backend and placed huge orders before the set went live.
In leaked chats, members bragged about turning the release into their “holiday season.” Their goal was simple: resell at inflated prices once stock ran dry.
Pokemon Company Fights Back
The good news? It looks like The Pokémon Company was ready.
Soon after the mass orders were placed, fans noticed something unusual. Many of the scalped orders began getting canceled.
On social media, collectors celebrated, joking that the bots had “lost.” Some even speculated that this was a honeypot trap set up to identify bot users.
Community Reaction
Players and collectors were frustrated but not surprised. Scalping has been an ongoing problem for years.
The incident sparked more debate about how to stop scalpers:
- Raffles or lotteries for online drops
- Tighter purchase limits per account
- Local store allocations tied to community play
Why This Matters
Scalping hurts the community. It drives prices up and makes it harder for genuine fans to get cards at retail.
This latest event shows two things:
- Scalpers are more organized than ever.
- The Pokémon Company is getting better at fighting back.
For now, the cancellations mean fans may still have a fair chance to buy Phantasmal Flames.
Final Thoughts on Scalpers
The battle between scalpers and fans isn’t going away soon. But this time, the community saw a win.
If you’re planning to collect or play with Phantasmal Flames, keep an eye on official restocks. With canceled orders, there’s hope that more product will reach real players.
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