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Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

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Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Cyber Bishop » Wed Apr 26, 2023 12:50 pm

Motto: "Ker-Klick... Choom!"
Weapon: Black Magic
https://www.polygon.com/23695923/mtg-af ... aked-cards

When Magic: The Gathering cards turned up on YouTube last week, publisher Wizards of the Coast sent private investigators from Pinkerton to retrieve them. The resulting confrontation reportedly frightened one woman to tears, and resulted in the confiscation of nearly two dozen boxes of cards by private investigators. Wizards confirmed the incident to Polygon. Meanwhile, the presenter denies anything illegal occurred.

At some point on April 20, YouTube channel oldschoolmtg published a video showing the opening of a box of collector booster packs from March of the Machine: The Aftermath — just one of 22 boxes it said were purchased from an acquaintance. Little has been revealed about the set so far, which is not expected to arrive in stores until May 12. As a result, the video was quickly downloaded and used as fuel for reaction videos all over the internet.

Later, on April 22, oldschoolmtg published another video explaining what had happened.
“I got up and recorded some videos,” the presenter said in the video. “Right after I got done with the video, dogs started barkin’ because somebody was knocking at the door. I come out and the wife’s answering the door and it was the Pinkertons.”

The name Pinkerton should ring a bell for our American readers. The modern-day Pinkertons are descended from the original Pinkerton Detective Agency, which was founded in Chicago, Illinois more than 170 years ago. The company has played a role in major historical events, not the least of which was its stint as a violent, strike-breaking private paramilitary force in the late 19th and early 20th century. Pinkerton, now a subsidiary of Paragon Systems, currently counts security and loss prevention among its many services.

Wizards confirmed to Polygon the Pinkertons were involved in the incident. The presenter at oldschoolmtg described agents as “big heavy-hitter guys” who frightened his wife. The Pinkertons arrived with contact information for someone at Wizards of the Coast and, after speaking with them, the presenter said they made the decision to pull their original videos down.

“He was very apologetic about making my wife cry first thing in the morning by sending these heavy-duty lawmen [to] come collect stuff and talk about stolen products and jail time,” the presenter said in the video. “But they don’t believe we stole anything — which we didn’t. I don’t know if they believe anybody really stole anything or if it was just an accident or whatever. But they wanted the product back so they could try and figure out where the hole was so they could plug the hole.”

“Wizards of the Coast can confirm that yes, this is part of their investigation,” a representative told Polygon.

In the video, the presenter goes on to extrapolate what they think happened in this situation. It’s possible, they say, that someone, somewhere in the distribution chain accidentally mistook March of the Machine product for March of the Machine: The Aftermath product.

“Somebody screwed up and sent out the wrong cases to the gentlemen that I bought the boxes off of, because when he sold me the stuff he said he was selling me March of the Machine collector’s boxes — not Aftermath. [...] He didn’t really even know what Aftermath really was, I don’t think.”

Polygon has reached out to oldschoolmtg for more information.

Engaging private investigators to retrieve stolen or missing trading cards is not a particularly new or novel strategy for game publishers. Just last week, Polygon reported on another similar incident dating back to 2021 involving products from The Pokémon Trading Card Game, which were also retrieved with the help of a private investigator.

The presenter in this instance said in the video that the person they spoke with from Wizards seemed to understand they were not at fault. In fact, they were eager to compensate the YouTuber for the purchase of the cards, potentially in the form of more appropriate replacement product, the presenter said.

“Anybody who has used my footage,” they added, “you’ll probably want to take that down.”

“I no longer have the product,” they said. “The Pinkertons took everything to take back to WotC.” That includes empty boxes and wrappers. “I don’t even have a token to show for my efforts,” he added with a laugh, before noting his channel had recently doubled in viewership.

Update (April 25): After the publication of this article, Wizards of the Coast reached out to Polygon with the following additional statement.

As part of an investigation into the unauthorized distribution and disclosure of embargoed product, we repeatedly attempted to contact an individual who had received unreleased cards. After that outreach was unsuccessful, an investigator visited him and asked that he reach out to us as part of our investigation and return the embargoed product and packaging. He agreed to do both. The unreleased product will be replaced by us with the product he intended to purchase. We appreciate the individual’s cooperation and the investigation is ongoing.


There are so many problems here
1) They did this for Magic but what about Transformers? There are youtubers like PvP who get items extremely early and paste their garbage on line with ZERO recourse.
2) This situation seems like the seller didn't know what they were sending off and the buyer was surprised by what he received.
3) "He was very apologetic about making my wife cry first thing in the morning by sending these heavy-duty lawmen [to] come collect stuff and talk about stolen products and jail time". first off if you aren't the real police without an actual bench WARRANT signed by a Judge you aren't getting through my front door, let alone make the guys wife cry. I would have ended up on the news for shooting a bunch of people that don't have the right to come on my property no "arrived with contact information for someone at Wizards of the Coast" doesn't constitute a warrant or bench warrant. And no some contact information from wizards of the coast doesn't constitute an actual judge signed warrant.

I did a little digging about Pinkertons and there are some reports of them using sever scare tactics, some voilence and doing illegal searches too.

I know if it were me I wouldn't have posted anything on any social media but unfortunately there are so many youtube attention whores out there, I guess this guy got what he deserved for wanting attention.

I look at it like this, if you aren't a friend, family member or law enforcement official (not a cop wanna be security guard) with due process to enter my premises, when I tell you to exit my property you best do so or things will get very messy (yes I will harm someone).


Moral of the story, don't be an attention whore to show off to people and you won't have trouble.
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Re: Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Rodimus Prime » Thu Apr 27, 2023 12:57 am

Motto: "Individual freedom above all else."
Well my very 1st Reaction was "Pinkerton is still around?" And obviously they are and act like mercenaries.

My next reaction was the same as yours: why would the guy let them in? At best they'll be talking to me through a slightly opened window. At worst, as you said, they'll be told to get off my property at the end of the barrel of my very convincing firearm.

The 3rd thing I thought was, the guy had better be compensated for the cards and the hassle. None of this was his fault.

Then finally, I also thought like you. Why can't this be done to asshats who illegally receive stolen transformers merch from a warehouse?
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Re: Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Cyber Bishop » Fri Apr 28, 2023 10:48 am

Motto: "Ker-Klick... Choom!"
Weapon: Black Magic
Rodimus Prime wrote:Well my very 1st Reaction was "Pinkerton is still around?" And obviously they are and act like mercenaries.

My next reaction was the same as yours: why would the guy let them in? At best they'll be talking to me through a slightly opened window. At worst, as you said, they'll be told to get off my property at the end of the barrel of my very convincing firearm.

The 3rd thing I thought was, the guy had better be compensated for the cards and the hassle. None of this was his fault.

Then finally, I also thought like you. Why can't this be done to asshats who illegally receive stolen transformers merch from a warehouse?


I think they did compensate him by sending the proper shipment or something, maybe that was someone else.

In fact, they were eager to compensate the YouTuber for the purchase of the cards, potentially in the form of more appropriate replacement product, the presenter said.


So which is it presenter, did they or did they not compensate you as towards the end you state this..

“I don’t even have a token to show for my efforts,”


so which s it??

So I presented this story to two buddies of mine, one a cop the other a lawyer, both said they have heard of pinkerton and know about their reputation, and unless it is actual federal/state/county/parish enforcement officials with the proper paperwork you have the right to pretty much tell to get the F off your property with zero fear of detainment.
Last edited by Cyber Bishop on Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Not a sheeple.
Think for yourself, don't let the magic TV box and social media do the thinking for you.
Question EVERYTHING!!
Just because you have a youtube review channel doesn't make you special.
No, I am not friendly online or in real life.
I look forward to attending a Botcon only to settle matters with idiots in person.
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Re: Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Rodimus Prime » Fri Apr 28, 2023 2:08 pm

Motto: "Individual freedom above all else."
Cyber Bishop wrote:so I presented this story to tow buddies of mine, one a cop the other a lawyer, both said they have heard of pinkerton and know about their reputation, and unless it is actual federal/state/county/parish enforcement officials with the proper paperwork you have the right to pretty much tell to get the F off your property with zero fear of detainment.
Yeah they're powerless. They can ask but that's it. Just like some of these d-bag bounty hunters who think they can go anywhere just because they have a bail bonds badge.
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Re: Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Jelze Bunnycat » Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:22 pm

Motto: "The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance."
Cyber Bishop wrote:
Rodimus Prime wrote:Well my very 1st Reaction was "Pinkerton is still around?" And obviously they are and act like mercenaries.

My next reaction was the same as yours: why would the guy let them in? At best they'll be talking to me through a slightly opened window. At worst, as you said, they'll be told to get off my property at the end of the barrel of my very convincing firearm.

The 3rd thing I thought was, the guy had better be compensated for the cards and the hassle. None of this was his fault.

Then finally, I also thought like you. Why can't this be done to asshats who illegally receive stolen transformers merch from a warehouse?


I think they did compensate him by sending the proper shipment or something, maybe that was someone else.

In fact, they were eager to compensate the YouTuber for the purchase of the cards, potentially in the form of more appropriate replacement product, the presenter said.


So which is it presenter, did they or did they not compensate you as towards the end you state this..

“I don’t even have a token to show for my efforts,”


so which s it??


The intention should be there, as per the other two mentioned. No word of them going through with it yet from what I've read.

So I presented this story to tow buddies of mine, one a cop the other a lawyer, both said they have heard of pinkerton and know about their reputation, and unless it is actual federal/state/county/parish enforcement officials with the proper paperwork you have the right to pretty much tell to get the F off your property with zero fear of detainment.


Detainment is the least of your worries there with such companies. If at first they don't succeed, they'll try harder and it's the fear of them actually having a valid subpoena or worse, them coming back with heavy artillery that'd make most people who aren't that knowledgeable in law and don't have the means for either lawsuits or damages, budge on the first go (go read up on loan sharks for example). Besides, some people are just easily intimidated. >:oP
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Re: Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Cyber Bishop » Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:44 am

Motto: "Ker-Klick... Choom!"
Weapon: Black Magic
Jelze Bunnycat wrote:Detainment is the least of your worries there with such companies. If at first they don't succeed, they'll try harder and it's the fear of them actually having a valid subpoena or worse, them coming back with heavy artillery that'd make most people who aren't that knowledgeable in law and don't have the means for either lawsuits or damages, budge on the first go (go read up on loan sharks for example). Besides, some people are just easily intimidated. >:oP


The point is when you show up with the proper authorities with the correct warrant/subpoena then you can enter and then after a lengthy explanation on both sides get your stuff back, until then come on my lawn and get your face blown off. Good thing I don't intimidate easily in RL >:oP , many have tried all have failed >:oP . Unfortunately there are so many squishies out there that allow themselves to be intimidated because they are spineless and have zero knowledge of RL and actual social/physical confrontations. This is what social media has done to society spinless keyboard commandos.
Not a sheeple.
Think for yourself, don't let the magic TV box and social media do the thinking for you.
Question EVERYTHING!!
Just because you have a youtube review channel doesn't make you special.
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I look forward to attending a Botcon only to settle matters with idiots in person.
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Re: Magic publishers sent Pinkerton agents to a YouTuber’s house to retrieve leaked cards

Postby Dead Metal » Fri Jun 07, 2024 5:03 am

Motto: "Don't do drugs, beer's cheaper anyway!"
Pretty late to the post, but as a Magic player and someone who saw the original streams of the guy, I want to weigh in:

The Wizards side of Hasbro is very particular when it comes to previewing their product. They call it "spoiler season", since the cards will also spoil the story of each set, these spoilers are often even planned to tie into story releases for the set.
A good deal of the cards are also allocated to magic content creators and influencers as exclusive previews as a sort of thank you for advertising the product.

This was an experimental special set, which was supposed to show the game world after the conclusion of the then running story line.

There are also strict dates for when product is allowed to be shown, sold and actually sent out.


So this guy buys boxes, claims he doesn't know what these are supposed to be, after months of hype surrounding the set, and then proceeds to open packs and show off the entire set in poor conditions (bad lighting, low quality video, and poor reading and pronunciation). And as I said, the hype for this was all over the place, Wizards also had a sort of countdown for when the spoiler season for the set would start.
And while doing so he basically **** over the community driven content creators.

To explain the situation, it's a bit like a youtuber gets his hands on the entirety of Transformers One, toy line, and the press kits Hasbro was reserving for content creators and news sites.
And then proceeds to live stream himself reading out the press releases, showing off the figures while also streaming the entire movie. With commentary in which he mispronounces things like Transformers, One, dead, action, toy, Hasbro, stream, season, TV show, robot etc..

Sending the Pinkertons was extreme, but holy hell, you cannot tell me he had no idea what he was doing. He knew exactly what he had and what he was doing.
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