2 Posing as Rich Couple Arrested in Swindles
A couple who posed as rich Los Altos residents conned numerous Santa Clara and Sacramento county businesses and individuals out of more than $40,000, police said.
Palo Alto police arrested Scott Balestrieri, 46, and Ruth Welz, 45, on April 30 at Dinah’s Garden Hotel after one of them got into a heated argument over $500 worth of products they had received from a day spa without paying, police said.
The couple would apparently go to a business after the manager had left for the day, chat up a lower-level employee and learn all they could about the boss. Then, said Palo Alto Det. Kara Apple, they would con other employees out of products by saying they were friends of the boss.
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