We deal with scams and deceit around every corner in our lives. Unsuspecting victims often find themselves entangled in bizarre situations. From creative porch pirates to fraudulent iPhone sellers and unscrupulous car dealerships, this week we travel through the Americas to shed light on the lengths some individuals will go to for ill-gotten gains.
Urban Camouflage
In the quiet neighborhoods of Sacramento, California, Omar Gabriel Munoz never expected his daily routine to be interrupted by an unconventional thief. It was a typical day when Munoz received a notification of a package delivery—two phone chargers worth a mere $10. However, upon returning home, he found no trace of the package. Perplexed, Munoz turned to his security footage, only to witness a bizarre sight—a figure disguised in a trash bag, waddling up to his doorstep to snatch the package.
The sight initially filled Munoz with anger, but as he replayed the footage, amusement replaced frustration. “At first, I thought they were messing with me,” Munoz recounted. Despite the loss, Munoz chose not to involve law enforcement, opting instead to reorder the chargers and share a laugh at the thief’s audacity. “People these days have a lot of creativity,” he remarked, finding humor even in the face of deception.
Put it in rice
Meanwhile, in the bustling streets of Toronto, a different kind of deception was underway. You often hear people advise you to put an iPhone in rice if it gets wet. Well, these guys were giving you the rice, just not the phone. Two men had been orchestrating a scheme involving fake iPhones, preying on unsuspecting victims through online platforms like Facebook Marketplace. Their modus operandi was simple yet effective—advertise the phones, arrange meetups with potential buyers, and deliver sealed boxes filled with rice or sand instead of the promised devices.
However, their operation took a darker turn when encounters with defrauded buyers escalated into physical altercations. Toronto Police, upon receiving reports of the fraudulent activities, launched an investigation that culminated in arrest. Their investigation led to the discovery of a cache of counterfeit goods.
A fistful of dollars
Away from the urban bustle of Toronto and Sacramento, the plains of Salta, Argentina, bore witness to a different kind of struggle. Abelardo Usandivaras, affectionately known as the “gaucho of Salta,” embarked on a quest for justice against a deceitful car dealership in Buenos Aires. Having made an advance payment for a much-needed truck, he was offered a different vehicle. He was told he would have to pay extra to have the original one he was promised. Usandivaras found himself ensnared in a web of broken promises and corporate malpractice.
Like in many western movies, this cowboy wasn’t going to put up with the dealership’s stonewalling tactics. He took matters into his own hands, barricading himself inside the establishment until justice was served. His defiant stand garnered widespread attention, with photos of him behind the dealership’s glass walls spreading like wildfire on social media. Despite eventually receiving a refund for his down payment, Usandivaras remained steadfast in his pursuit of accountability, vowing to take the dealership to court and seek recompense for the ordeal.
