Foreign family allegedly scams elderly man out of savings in Bolivia

An elderly man in Samaipata, Bolivia, has reported losing his life savings of Bs 21,000 and $3,700 to a foreign family who allegedly posed as renters and then defrauded him.

The incident occurred between August 8 and 9 when seven individuals, including two minors, rented a home from the victim, Juan Talamas Hurtado. After initially appearing friendly, one woman from the group claimed to detect "witchcraft" targeting him and offered to perform a "cleansing" ritual using rue herbs.

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I took out all my money wrapped in a t-shirt and showed it to the lady who performs cures with rue herbs.

During the conversation, the woman inquired about his savings, which Talamas revealed to be Bs 21,000 and $3,700 kept at his home. The woman then proposed a ritual to "cleanse" the money, promising it would multiply. Talamas reportedly showed her the money, wrapped in a shirt, and she placed it inside a sock, instructing him to hide it in a wardrobe without anyone seeing it as part of the procedure.

The following day, when Talamas and his sister checked the wardrobe, the money was gone. The alleged perpetrators had fled. Investigators from the Special Force to Fight Crime (Felcc) have obtained security camera footage showing the suspects leaving the property and heading towards Santa Cruz. The victim fears they may attempt to cross into Argentina.

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I took out all my money wrapped in a t-shirt and showed it to the lady who performs cures with rue herbs.