The Greatest Con Of All Time?

Discussion in 'The Red Room' started by JUSTLEE, Apr 29, 2007.

  1. JUSTLEE

    JUSTLEE The Ancient Starfighter

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2007
    Messages:
    6,659
    Ratings:
    +988
    Wool pulled over Japanese eyes in poodle scam
    April 26, 2007 - 8:43PM


    Thousands of Japanese have been swindled in a scam in which they were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles, The Sun newspaper reported today.

    Flocks of sheep were imported to Japan and then sold by a company called Poodles as Pets, marketed as fashionable accessories, available at $1,600 each.

    That is a snip compared to a real poodle which retails for twice that much in Japan.

    The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.[​IMG]

    She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.

    Then hundreds of other women got in touch with police to say they feared their new "poodle" was also a sheep.

    One couple said they became suspicious when they took their "dog" to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves.

    Japanese police believe there could be 2,000 people affected by the scam, which operated in Sapporo and capitalised on the fact that sheep are rare in Japan, so many do not know what they look like.

    "We launched an investigation after we were made aware that a company were selling sheep as poodles," Japanese police said, the The Sun reported.

    "Sadly we think there is more than one company operating in this way.
    "The sheep are believed to have been imported from overseas - Britain, Australia."

    Many of the sheep have now been donated to zoos and farms.

    AAP


    http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/04/26/1177459874061.html


    Everybody pickson theJapanese, but this could beone of the all time greatest con.
  2. Clyde

    Clyde Orange

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    25,971
    Ratings:
    +8,368
  3. Diacanu

    Diacanu Comicmike. Writer

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2004
    Messages:
    101,080
    Ratings:
    +81,582
    Religion.
    :bergman:
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Dumb Dumb x 1
  4. Chris

    Chris Cosmic Horror

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2004
    Messages:
    28,946
    Ratings:
    +4,331
    C'mon now, everyone say it with me...
  5. Forbin

    Forbin Do you feel fluffy, punk?

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    43,616
    Location:
    All in your head
    Ratings:
    +30,535
    "Splignoitz!!"


    :unsure:
  6. Lt. Mewa

    Lt. Mewa Rockefeller Center

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    50,129
    Location:
    NYC
    Ratings:
    +9,404
    I would sure love to see a picture of this creature.
  7. Marso

    Marso High speed, low drag.

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    29,417
    Location:
    Idaho
    Ratings:
    +14,151
    I thuoght this thread was going to be about Christianity.

    Oh, and caveat empor, of course.
  8. Robotech Master

    Robotech Master '

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2004
    Messages:
    9,995
    Ratings:
    +3,939
    Duplicate thread...?
    • Agree Agree x 1