The old âfake sheikhâ bit is tried and true, but that hasnât stopped La Liga side Getafe finding themselves duped out of ⬠10 millionâs worth of investment due chiefly to the fact that the man promising them the cash didnât actually exist! According to Spanish paper AS, Catalan police have arrested a network of fraudsters who have done the rounds, making it their business to deceive businessmen and directors of football clubs, including Getafe, into thinking that an Arab sheikh was interested in ploughing money into their coffers. Apparently the victims, including Getafe president Angel Torres, were promised â¬10 million euros to do with as they saw fit, and were told to transfer funds as a âguarantee of solvencyâ to a bank account belonging to the fraudsters. As youâd expect, the victims paid the money into the account but the euros never materialised. This from AS: âThe fraudsters organised business trips to Arab countries with their victims and had a luxurious office in a wealthy Barcelona neighbourhood, where photos were found of the fraudsters pictured with influential politicians and King Juan Carlos. âThey organised meetings in luxurious hotels which were attended by a false Arab sheikh, who was in fact a Brazilian waiter who was paid â¬50 to dress up as a sheikh.â The paper also suggest that representatives from Espanyol travelled out to Dubai but were tipped off about the ruse before any contracts were signed. As things stand, seven people have been arrested in conjunction. As the old saying goes: âIf it looks to good to be true, then itâs probably a Brazilian waiter dressed up as an Arab shiekh.â
Sounds like that Prince Nakashuktemosaka from Nigeria who keeps sending me emails wanting to put $185m(us) into my bank account.
Jeez that guy must be minted and overworked, he still hasn't deposited anything in my account. I gave him the money he needed to do it so I guess he's just a little busy ATM
He emailed you as well?? Strange he sent me one the other week - I guess he knows us both somehow? Have you transferred the money yet? How long does it take to get the $185m if so? I have been waiting now for about 3 weeks and heard nothing
He knows a lot of people. He has more contacts than Arry Redknapp. I got nothing yet but he assures me it's on its way or I can sleep with seven of his wives.