In an astonishing tale of deceit, a con artist operated for an entire year on the popular trading platform Whatnot , swindling collectors out of significant sums of money. Among those affected is Andy R. , who lost 5,000 euros purchasing Pokémon products from a seller who went by the name “Maître Red”. This scam not only impacted Andy but also a growing number of other victims who were unaware of the impending fraud.
The Modus Operandi of the Con Artist
“Initially, I was his vendor,” explains Andy R. to La Provence . “I sent him items worth thousands of euros that he never paid for. We’re talking about 5,000 euros transferred in September 2024,” continues the unfortunate collector, who has managed to recover 1,500 euros so far. “For the rest, I think I’m out of luck. He doesn’t intend to reimburse anyone,” laments Andy.
Andy R., with more than 10,800 followers on Whatnot and over 2,000 successful sales , seemed to inspire confidence. “He participated in public events and was seen alongside well-known figures like David Lafarge , a YouTuber with over two million subscribers. Everything seemed legitimate,” adds Andy.
Detecting the scam, another user took to Instagram , creating a group that gathered victims of the fraudster, who referred to himself as “Pokelovee.” This private conversation group now counts 61 members , with a total estimated damage of 100,000 euros .
Thirty complaints, including some from Belgium and the Paris region, have been filed for what are popularly called “sentiment frauds.” Andy’s complaint, which he wishes to remain anonymous, was submitted on May 22. In the complaint, which we have accessed, it states, “On the Internet, I was deceived by the use of fake documents and the employment of fraudulent maneuvers, particularly through the attached documents. This made me commit funds.”
The unscrupulous seller tried to create a new profile on Voggt , a competing platform, before being identified. Banned by Whatnot in May 2025, he operated for nearly a year despite repeated reports from users as early as the end of 2024.
Whatnot has since refunded some buyers who made purchases through the platform, but many are still awaiting compensation.