[rasz]

In the case of Wata the dude scamming now (Jim Halperin and Heritage Auctions) scammed in the eighties in exact same way and got fined peanut sum by FTC for it https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-10-vw-88-sto...

"Heritage Capital Corp. and Numismatic Certification Institute. Also named in the action were Steve Ivy and James Halperin, prominent numismatic figures. A consent order was signed agreeing to establish a $1.2-million fund for collectors who purchase the NCI-graded coins from Coin Galleries Inc. of Miami."

[krajzeg]

Just leaving this here: many of the Pokemon cards in question are being sold through Heritage, hyped by CGC (the grading company).

https://www.cgccards.com/news/article/13534/

History both repeats and rhymes, in this case.