Metal detecting scam - you won't believe it

[Rob in KS]

Salina Journal August 17th

Couple lose $45,000 in scam

The owners of a Salina store lost $45,000 to scam artists who convinced them that gold coins were buried under their store, then came up with an elaborate process the two would have to go through to retrieve the fortune.

Deputy Chief Mike Marshall said the two men showed the couple, Maria and Alejandro Ramos, a machine that supposedly beeped to indicate the presence of gold. They convinced the couple that the machine detected gold under the floor of the back room of their store, El Azteca De Oro, 427 S. Broadway.

Marshall said the couple allowed the men to use a jackhammer to get through the concrete, then dig into the soil. The scammers claimed to find a clay box, with a cross on the top and the year "1878" on the bottom. Inside was a letter, written on a leather sheet, that indicated that a treasure chest containing $70,000 in gold coins was buried one to two meters below the box. In order to keep their family from having bad luck for four generations, the letter offered these instructions: the Ramoses could not tell anyone of the discovery, they were to build a worship altar to the god Fray, they were to recite the rosary together for nine days and they were to place in the box money equivalent to the value of the gold coins, and leave it there for nine days.

The Ramoses and the men did as instructed, with the Ramoses contributing $45,000 in cash and the two men allegedly putting in $25,000.

The cash was placed in the box on the altar on July 27. The Ramoses and the two men were to start reciting the rosary together every day on July 28.

Marshall said the scammers called the Ramoses July 28 and indicated that they couldn't get to Salina.

The men never showed up again, and the Ramoses couldn't reach them. But Marshall said the couple recited the rosary every day, for nine days, as instructed.

On Aug. 11, Marshall said, they looked in the box, and all of the money was gone. The box had been filled with newspaper.

They notified police Wednesday.

Marshall said a similar scam was pulled recently at a Reno County store.

[Ron B]

You are so very right; I do not believe it!

GRB

[Redneckin Rookie]

Im sorry if this offends anyone or somethin, but, how friggin stupid can you be? lol I understand the part about letting them look for the gold, but to put all that money in a box & recite the rosary for 9 days in a row? you gotta be kiddin me

Did the crooks show the family the box and the letter or did they just say they found it?

[{Sentinel}]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Yeah right If you are that dumb you deserve to have all your money taken. I have to agree with GoldenRoyBoy on this...Unbelieveable

[Montana Jim]

That is a tried and true scam... LMAO.

[Hardy]

NOW YOU KNOW HOW I COULD AFFORD MY NEW BOAT

[Green1]

[EDDE]

alot has to do with mexicans being superstitious
here in lie the key/acme/axle of the plan

[Rob in KS]

There weren't any other details. I saw it on the Wichita news.

What I want to know is where did they get $45K in CASH?
They must be selling a LOT of tortillas.

[rebelLT]

I wish someone would come and stick 25 thousand of THEIR money in a box and bury it under my house! When they came back I would throw them in the hole and keep their money!

[EDDE]

the mexicans ALL got big dollars stashed away

[Gypsy Heart]

the mexicans ALL got big dollars stashed away

Well If I got free medical and dental care , didnt pay taxes or contribute to SS ......I would probally have money too.

[desertfox]

Did it say if they got a FREE bus ride back south of the border? I can belive just about anything now days but this was a hard one...........

[eagle77]

the mexicans ALL got big dollars stashed away

Well If I got free medical and dental care , didnt pay taxes or contribute to SS ......I would probally have money too.

Agree 1000000% Gypsy.

This is an old scam with a new twist, hope they find the scammers and feed'em bread and water for a long time. I hate predators that prey on the elderly.

[IndianaSmith]

LMAO.....if this is true, I hope the scammers were good ol' US rednecks

Smitty

[txkickergirl]

here's your sign!

If anyone else out there is that stupid
please send 25k to me right away, I know where gold is and when recovered I will send you 50% of what I uncover. (just let me know which 50% of the dirt you want top soil or other...never mind I'm not greedy I will send you all 100% of it if you send your money now, yep thats right you get all the dirt I can dig for the low low price of 25k.)

[$CUERVOJ]

You guys have to be kidding me? The moderators actually allow this kinda BS on this forum? There are a few of you Id never think would say something like this from all the great welcomes I recieved when I first joined this group.I am of Mexican heritage, Texan and most of all American. Not all Mexicans get free medical and dental as you say. As matter of fact most are proud and hard working. I am sure this family earned every bit of that money as any American should. I'd bet it wasnt by selling drugs or stealing from the poor either. They trusted these people and God to do the right thing.I would have thought Id hear more about how to stop someone from doing this again to anyone white, black, red white or blue. At least something positive. Anyway, I am not mad at you it just reminds me why I love what I do. You have the right to free expression. So do I. Sleep well

[IndianaSmith]

You guys have to be kidding me? The moderators actually allow this kinda BS on this forum? There are a few of you Id never think would say something like this from all the great welcomes I recieved when I first joined this group.I am of Mexican heritage, Texan and most of all American. Not all Mexicans get free medical and dental as you say. As matter of fact most are proud and hard working. I am sure this family earned every bit of that money as any American should. I'd bet it wasnt by selling drugs or stealing from the poor either. They trusted these people and God to do the right thing.I would have thought Id hear more about how to stop someone from doing this again to anyone white, black, red white or blue. At least something positive. Anyway, I am not mad at you it just reminds me why I love what I do. You have the right to free expression. So do I. Sleep well

I doubt anyone here likes the unbelieveable influx of illegals flowing into this country anymore than the rest of the us do. This country is being sucked-dry by people here ILLEGALLY.....who are more than welcome here, as long as they do it according to the laws ALREADY IN PLACE.

LMAO....I thought Americans went to Mexico FOR cheap drugs?? And we've all heard stories about the corrupt government there.......so sorry, have some cheese & crackers to go along with that whine..........

Smitty

[BLACKFOOT]

Your supposed to say the prayer thingie for 12 days thats why it did not work for them.
Bob knows

[G.I.B.]

please send 25k to me right away, I know where gold is and when recovered I will send you 50% of what I uncover. (just let me know which 50% of the dirt you want top soil or other...never mind I'm not greedy I will send you all 100% of it if you send your money now, yep thats right you get all the dirt I can dig for the low low price of 25k.)

Do you accept Italian Lira? Where do I send it and when do I get my gold... Oh, and I'll take all the dirt.