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Man jailed for faking his death
A Singapore man was jailed for three years after he faked his own death in a civil war shoot-out in Sri Lanka in 1987 to escape his creditors and claim $243,600 in insurance money, a newspaper reported Saturday.
Gandaruban Subramaniam fled Singapore more than 20 years ago -- harassed by creditors and illegal money lenders since the failure of his car rental business -- and moved to London to work as a street sweeper.
The 60-year old eventually settled in Sri Lanka where he managed to obtain a death certificate stating he had been killed in a shootout between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, allowing his family to claim on his insurance policies.
But he returned to Singapore a number of times using a fake Sri Lankan passport and also remarried his wife in Sri Lanka in 1994 and fathered a son, their fourth child, two years later.
Gandaruban's scam was discovered by a Singapore lawyer and arrested at Singapore's Changi Airport last October. A Singapore man was jailed for three years after he faked his own death in a civil war shoot-out in Sri Lanka in 1987 to escape his cr... more -
Smile! Your crime is on YouTube
A British man has been branded a city's "dumbest criminal" after he posted more than 80 videos of himself committing various misdemeanours on YouTube, officials said on Wednesday. A British man has been branded a city's "dumbest criminal" after he posted more than 80 videos of himself committing va... more
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Dallas man tries to cash $360 billion cheque
A man has been accused of attempting to pass a $360 billion check, which he claims was given to him by his girlfriend’s mother to start a record business, Fort Worth police have said.
The personal check was not made out to Mr. Fuller and when the bank contacted the check owner, the woman said she did not write a check for $360 billion.
"Ummm, no. I don't think I've made out any cheques for $360 billion today." A man has been accused of attempting to pass a $360 billion check, which he claims was given to him by his girlfriend’s mother to star... more -
Is UPS stealing your copy of GTA IV?
UPS may be experiencing an upswing in employee theft, with GTA IV to blame. Hearsay? Oh, totally, but gaming blog Ars Technica passes on that "In one 24-hour period, three workers were fired, and more interviews were scheduled for today that would likely end in termination."
The story comes from someone who appears to work in human resources or security, claiming that tracking down the offending GTA IV package thief isn't hard. UPS may be experiencing an upswing in employee theft, with GTA IV to blame. Hearsay? Oh, totally, but gaming blog Ars Technica passes ... more -
Planning on running a $20,000 video game scam? DON'T leave a paper trail!
This kind of story deserves its own new word: Chutzpidity. Because a guy in Minnesota had both in equal and voluminous supply for this particular scam. Over a full year, this guy bought nearly 200 games, worth more than $23,000, replaced them with blanks, got the refunds, then sold the real games on eBay. The re-sale netted him almost $19,000.
Now, while the alleged scammer was clever enough to forge a label on the blanks, and then repackage the games to make them look brand new (and also avoid an inspection that would discover the blanks) did he honestly think no one would notice 192 REFUNDS on a credit card and start asking questions? It takes enormous gall or a lack of brains, or both — hence chuzpidity — to keep going with this after getting $10K in tax-free ill-gotten booty and leaving a paper trail that stretches to Sioux Falls.
Someone finally did, and he was collared in October 2007. Best part? His 68-year-old mother is implicated too. She faces a single felony count of "theft by swindle," which is an awesome charge. If she was a dude I'd imagine her to look like Snidely Whiplash.
All of the above is alleged, not proven in court. Just to stay on the safe side. This kind of story deserves its own new word: Chutzpidity. Because a guy in Minnesota had both in equal and voluminous supply for this... more -
Would-Be Robber Gives Cell Phone Number to Victims
CHICAGO (CBS) ― It's not often that a robber tells his would-be victim "call me!" But it happened, on Chicago's West Side.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports Jose Velasquez's Mufflers 4 Less shop got more excitement than they bargained for Monday -- the first customer of the day was a masked man with a gun.
"He had his gun out, walking in the office," said mechanic Antonio Diaz.
The three mechanics on duty told him they didn't have any money and the owner would have to come in to open the safe. The man gave them his cell phone number.
"He just told us he would give us the number, and we would have to call when the owner was here and the money was going to get here," Diaz said.
Manager Jose Sida said when he left the robber said "'you better call me. If you don't, when I come back, I shoot you guys.'"
"We didn't call the owner, we called policem" Diaz said.
Police told them to be calm and call the suspect. Jose Sida was stunned to be making an appointment to be robbed.
But plainclothes tactical officers posed as mechanics and waited for the man to return.
The real employees scrambled to the back room and heard gunfire. When it was over, the suspect was under arrest, with a gunshot wound to the leg.
The 18-year-old suspect was treated for non-life threatening and questioned at Illinois Masonic Hospital.
A source close to the investigation says the suspect lived close to the shop, was under house arrest and was wearing a home monitoring device on his ankle at the time of the robbery. CHICAGO (CBS) ― It's not often that a robber tells his would-be victim "call me!" But it happened, on Chicago's We... more -
Dumbest Criminal Ever?
South African police officers claim to have caught the "dumbest criminal" this year.
A man walked into a South African Police Station to report that he had been held at gunpoint by a gang who had stolen his mobile phone.
In what can only be described as 'textbook' detective work, the officer phoned the man's 'stolen' phone to hear the 'birdy song' coming the complainant's pocket. (Actual Ringtone TBC)
Police spokesman Eugene Opperman said that the incident had left "him speechless for a few minutes." Using the creativity of a toddler, the police issued the incident's statement and entitled it "Dumbest criminal?" South African police officers claim to have caught the "dumbest criminal" this year. ... more -
Dumb criminal writes "gimme money" demand note on back of own paystub
writing on the back of one's own own paystub to rob convenience stores... pretty.... pretty... dumb...
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Leave the TV, take the cannoli
A burglar broke into a Wisconsin apartment, but instead of grabbing valuables, he walked out with a pizza, six eggs, a can of beef ravioli, a can of peaches and one chicken-and-broccoli Hot Pocket. Police have brought in every roommate ever for questioning. A burglar broke into a Wisconsin apartment, but instead of grabbing valuables, he walked out with a pizza, six eggs, a can of beef ra... more
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Man Tries To Cash $1 Million Bill
Funnily enough, they didn't have quite enough change. Or think it was real money.
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Burglary 101
Don't try to steal copper wire from buildings where cops go for training. They will be there, and they will arrest you, like this guy... Don't try to steal copper wire from buildings where cops go for training. They will be there, and they will arrest you, like this... more
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Robber falls asleep on the job
Note to self: drink coffee before robbing bank. "A Turkish man who broke into a Cyprus bank to steal from the ATM machine was found fast asleep on the floor by a cleaner who raised the alarm, Cypriot police said on Monday.The cleaner stumbled over the suspect two hours before opening time and called in the police, who turned up to catch a tired man staggering out of the building." Note to self: drink coffee before robbing bank. "A Turkish man who broke into a Cyprus bank to steal from the ATM machine was f... more
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Minnesota Toe Licker Nabbed
After mugging, creep told victim, "Now I'm going to suck your feet."
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Mugging 101
Just because you're mugging a blind guy doesn't mean he's not a Judo Expert!
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Robbery 101
Don't steal from a video surveillance company, they're taping you!
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Cartoons Show Up At Central Booking
The Smoking Gun presents an assortment of iconic American cartoon stars depicted on the shirts of these recent arrestees.
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Drug Dealing 101
It didn't take the sleuthing skills of a Miss Marple or Sherlock Holmes to figure out who was peddling marijuana to teenagers in Market Square. It didn't take the sleuthing skills of a Miss Marple or Sherlock Holmes to figure out who was peddling marijuana to teenagers in ... more
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Barbie bank bandit bawls before being branded baddie by bench, bailiff
Whew, that took a lot of B's out of me
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Vandalism in Palm Springs mirrors Manson murders
Police in Palm springs don't seem to see the connection, and think it's something to do with Witchcraft or Satanism.
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Robbery 101
Don't leave your name and address with your victim!
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Dumb Criminals
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Dumb Criminals
