MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Lester Brito and his wife Ziara Cabrera said they knew something was off.
The couple had arranged to sell their Sony a7R IV camera to a woman on OfferUp last Wednesday in a neighborhood off Fontainebleau Boulevard and West Flagler Street in west Miami-Dade.
Moments before the sale, they got a message that her boyfriend would be getting out of the car.
“‘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,’” said Cabrera. “He walks up to me and I go, ‘Why did you guys park so far?’ And he didn’t answer, he kind of went like (shrug).”
That’s when they said the man grabbed the pricey professional camera and pulled out a stack of $100 bills, handing some of them to the couple.
“He counted the $2,500 and he had more money and put it back in his pocket,” said Cabrera.
The man took the camera and quickly left, running away as the couple examined the bills and realized they were all fake.
Cabrera called police as Brito gave chase while the suspect jumped into a waiting car and took off.
“It’s so fast that you don’t have time to react,” said Cabrera.
The couple said they feel the guy has done this kind of thing before and warned their neighbors and family and friends.
Anyone who thinks they recognize the man or woman are urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.