A Mexican girl has been taken into custody over her alleged function in a sequence of World Cup ticket scams that noticed determined followers lose almost $1.7 million.
Lidia Silva Cruz was introduced in by cops in Tlalnepantla de Baz, close to Mexico Metropolis, for her half in an alleged plot alongside her boyfriend – who is alleged to be nonetheless on the run.
Cruz and her boyfriend, Simon Selmen, are alleged to have agreed to satisfy up with a pair on Might 22 in a financial institution in Coacalco after promising them some extremely sought-after tickets to the World Cup opener on June 11.
As a substitute of tickets to the sport, they’re claimed to have bundled the victims right into a automotive at gunpoint earlier than fleeing with $4,600.
Based on Imagen TV, that incident was only a small half in a a lot wider scheme that robbed World Cup followers out of just about $870,000 in whole, after they promised VIP suites to followers.
A Mexican journalist – Carlos Jimenez – shone gentle on the case when he shared particulars and even arrest footage from the scene.
Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring the primary aim of the World Cup within the opening recreation
Lidia Silvia Cruz has been arrested for her alleged function in a ticket rip-off through the match
One other alleged scammer, Edgar Ramirez, can also be on the run after authorities in Mexico Metropolis stated he additionally offered $870,000 in faux tickets to followers determined to see the Mexico-South Africa recreation.
He’s alleged to have offered greater than 60 faux tickets to the sport however failed to satisfy followers exterior the stadium on the day.
It’s claimed he advised them his mother had died, earlier than he stopped answering their calls and textual content messages because the day bought nearer, in keeping with authorities.
Outdoors the stadium, some followers had been left ticketless after Edgar Ramirez failed to point out up
Tickets to the opening recreation of the World Cup had been extraordinarily onerous to return by for followers
In a weird twist, his spouse – Areli Nava – is alleged to have reported him lacking within the build-up to the sport.
He claimed he had entry to the tickets by a sponsor, and advised the gullible followers to satisfy him at 10am exterior the stadium, detailing that they need to put on black t-shirts, light-colored denims and white sneakers.
The Each day Mail has reached out to the State of Mexico Legal professional Common’s Workplace for touch upon the investigation.
