Czech family of 3 is accused of running a fake dental clinic
PRAGUE — Czech police say they have detained three suspects who allegedly treated patients in a fake dental clinic without a proper licence or professional training.
Police in a statement Wednesday said dozens of people visited the clinic after the family of three opened it at their home in the town of Havlíčkův Brod, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Prague, two years ago. The trio made 4 million Czech koruna ($185,000) before they were detained earlier this month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Quick-thinking Utah car dealer foils $95K auto theft scheme after spotting truck had a ‘suspicious' VIN
A trio of alleged car thieves very nearly walked away with $95,000 recently. However, their scheme was thwarted by an observant car dealer at the Stephen Wade Auto Center in St. George, Utah. That employee's quick thinking enabled police to set up a sting, arrest three men and save the dealership from losing thousands paying for a stolen vehicle. And, it was all thanks to his careful checking of the vehicle identification number (VIN). I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Here's how the scam was foiled, along with how car owners can protect their own VINs — or make sure they don't end up with a stolen car if they are buying a vehicle. The sequence of events that resulted in the arrest began when a man identifying himself as Marciano Madrano Penaloza went into the Stephen Wade dealership to sell a 2023 Chevrolet pickup truck, reported St. George News. The dealership and Penaloza agreed on a price and Penaloza left with plans to return the next day to pick up a check for $51,000. While the sale was pending, though, a dealership employee checked the VIN and found that it came back as 'invalid.' This discovery launched an investigation of the vehicle, with employees checking the side door sticker, engine compartment and near the windshield where the VIN was found. They found something surprising then — the VIN had been altered, though the change was hard to detect. When the real VIN was located, it revealed that the truck had been stolen. The dealership called law enforcement, who sprang into action to set up a sting after discovering Penaloza was coming back the next day to pick up the check. When Penaloza returned with two others, all three men were arrested. According to St. George News, a search of their car by detectives uncovered a $44,000 check from a different dealer to whom Penaloza sold another truck. Police said that the VIN on that vehicle had also been altered and, when the real one was checked, that truck had also been reported stolen. If the altered VIN hadn't been found, the scammers would have walked away with a reported $95,000. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how A VIN is a unique identifying number found within every vehicle. They essentially serve as the car's fingerprint, with each 17-digit number permanently linked to a specific vehicle. VINs are recorded in databases, including the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), which stores a consolidated list of car title information compiled from Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in participating states. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) also maintains a VIN database, which is the one the dealer checked in this particular case. If a car is stolen, in an accident or sold, all these details become part of the records attached to the VIN — sort of like how people's borrowing behavior is added to their credit record. That's why thieves alter the VIN — to try to avoid a buyer finding the true history of a car. In this case, once the dealership found the unaltered vehicle ID number, they were able to use it to find out the truth about the truck and stop the scam in its tracks. If you're a car owner, you need to protect your VIN. Otherwise, someone could steal it and use it in a scam like this one, attaching your legit VIN to a stolen car so when dealers search their database, everything comes up clear. Cybercriminals can also sometimes hack a vehicle from thousands of miles away by using the VIN and the owner's email to access a vehicle's app and take over. Obviously, you don't want that to happen. The good news, you can help keep your car's ID safe by covering the VIN with tape so people can't look in the window of the car and see the number. Car owners should also make sure to avoid providing their VIN to anyone they don't know and trust, so it won't fall into the wrong hands. As for car buyers, the key is to find a vehicle without a history of problems, like being reported stolen. Buyers should look carefully at the VIN in any vehicle they're considering to make sure it's not altered. You can check if fonts match up or if there are any scratches or markings near where the VIN is posted that could suggest tampering. Once you have the (hopefully correct) VIN, you can run it through many online services that search VIN databases, including CARFAX, which will perform a VIN decoder to show buyers the car's history. Of course, even the dealer was nearly tricked here, so you'll need to be careful when checking a vehicle's VIN to make sure you aren't duped. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'One is one too many as far as I am concerned for any family to have to live through'
A town has declared war on speeding drivers. Cameras to catch repeat offenders have been set up at hotspots across Bolton and they are already having an impact. After being appointed in October Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, district commander for Bolton, made tackling dangerous driving, deaths and injuries on the district's roads her top priority. Excessive speeding alongside drink and drug driving and driver standards have been the main key causes of road traffic collisions in the area. READ MORE: Dad dies minutes after sitting down to eat sandwich READ MORE: Friends left stunned at Manchester Airport after landing £24,000 in terminal As part of Operation Classify officers have increased the use of powers to stop vehicles and have used deterrents including conducting visits and sending warning letters to registered keepers. As a result there has been an 82 percent reduction in vehicles being further caught speeding once they were given a warning letter in relation to the use of their vehicle. Chief Supt Critchley said: 'We have seen a reduction in fatalities which is reassuring that our actions are having an effect. One is one too many as far as I am concerned for any family to have to live through. 'In 2024, we had six fatalities recorded on the roads in Bolton, our lowest number since 2019. This is an improving picture and it is down to a number of factors, not just the police but the support we have from our partners too. 'Road safety has been a priority for the district and we've got a dedicated operation that supports the activity to reduce fatal road traffic collisions. We want Bolton to be a place where people are safe to be out and about in their cars.' The district has also enlisted the help of the Mini Police - local youngsters - who took part in a speeding operation close to Horwich Police Station. The youngsters learnt how the speed gun is used and took turns in testing the equipment. GMP say the operation was not just to reduce speeding but to educate the children who live around Horwich and Hulton about road safety and also pass this learning on to adults. Since Chief Supt Critchley became commander there have been regular proactive road safety operations done throughout the district at key hot-spot areas with a high number of vehicle collisions. Chief Supt Critchley said: 'I'm proud of my team and what they've done in the last eight months, their dedication and commitment to achieving this is about all elements of the district. This is neighbourhood policing at its core - making communities safer.'
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
A woman's house in California was burglarized so many times that even bears went in
MAGALIA, Calif. (AP) — Prosecutors say a woman's home in a remote area of northern California was so badly damaged by a series of burglaries that bears were able to get inside, causing additional destruction that compounded her financial losses. The Butte County District Attorney's Office said it filed burglary charges over the past week against 11 people for the break-ins at the home of a 64-year-old woman outside Magalia. The homeowner first reported a burglary in April 2024, authorities said. That was followed by a series of additional intrusions that drove her from her home. With the house being empty, bears went inside. Along with the 11 suspects, Butte County prosecutors said, another five suspects have been tentatively identified and charges against them are pending. Five of the 11 were still in the county jail as of early Saturday, all facing a burglary charge. Others have posted bail or were released on their own recognizance, according to the district attorney's statement. Ten are residents of Magalia, while the other is from nearby Paradise. Magalia is about 92 miles (148 kilometers) north of Sacramento in a region of vast national forests. The woman's home is in the Lovelock area, just north of Magalia.
