A Miami-Dade County couple found themselves victims of a counterfeit cash scheme after attempting to sell an expensive camera on OfferUp. Lester Brito and his wife Ziara Cabrera met with a prospective buyer last Wednesday to sell their Sony a7R IV camera, only to be paid with fake $100 bills, Local 10 News reported.
The circumstances seemed suspect from the start as they arranged to meet in a neighborhood off Fontainebleau Boulevard and West Flagler Street, with the buyer stating that her boyfriend would complete the transaction. "Oh, my boyfriend is getting off and he's the one that's going to go get it and give you the money and he has an FIU shirt," Cabrera recounted in a statement obtained by Accurate News Info. The couple's suspicions quickly began to validate as the exchange swiftly turned south.
According to the sellers, the man approached, balked at the question about their distant parking, shrugged, then proceeded to ostensibly count out $2,500 in $100 bills. He quickly grabbed the camera and left, leaving Cabrera and Brito to realize the money was counterfeit. "He counted the $2,500 and he had more money and put it back in his pocket," Cabrera told Local 10 News.
The incident unfolded rapidly, not providing the couple with much of a chance to apprehend the scammer. "It's so fast that you don't have time to react," Cabrera explained to Accurate News Info. While Brito attempted to give chase, the scammer made a getaway in a car that had been waiting. The distraught couple called the police and have since been warning others of the incident, suggesting the scammer may have perpetrated similar schemes before.
Those who might possess any information that could lead to the identification of the individuals involved in this deception are urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. The couple hopes that their ordeal serves as a cautionary tale to others using online marketplaces to conduct in-person transactions.
