Part 7/10:
Falsifying business information
Inflating revenue figures
Claiming nonexistent employees
Using funds for personal luxury items
Overall, there were reports of individuals and entities misappropriating millions of dollars intended to sustain small businesses and workers.
The Cultural and Collector Market Angle
The story also sheds light on how collectibles like Pokémon cards have transitioned from childhood nostalgia to high-stakes investment assets. The pandemic triggered a boom in collectible markets, with many people seeing rare cards as alternative investments—akin to stocks or real estate.