Fraudsters were selling a “miracle liquid” that destroyed stamps on banknotes stolen from governments or aid associations.

Two men were arrested on Monday at the scene of a crime at a hotel in Lisbon as they were suspected of committing crimes of advanced fraud and forgery. According to PSP, people used to make exploratory approaches in various places with tempting business proposals.

The suspects offered to open business companies, for which they invited the victims to become partners and managers of the alleged companies in Portugal. They tried to convince them that they had several million euros to invest, and that these millions were sums diverted from governments or humanitarian aid associations in countries in conflict.

“Once the plot is prepared and the victim is convinced, the second part of the plan appears, which consists of making a demonstration by means of a miraculous liquid that clears marked banknotes, whether stamps of a particular country or a humanitarian association, thereby allowing their introduction into the legal financial circle through allegedly created companies, of which the victim is expected to be a manager,” PSP said in a statement.

After completing the transaction, the suspects left the scene, leaving the victim to lose the money, which he had placed in a “suitcase full of papers and bottles containing a supposed miracle liquid containing only water and dye.”

Due to several indications that a crime had occurred, PSP officers approached the suspects and detained them. Authorities seized a car, eight mobile phones, 250 euros in banknotes, two watches, a safe, 24 bundles of papers similar to bundles of banknotes, three bottles of “miracle liquid”, two false identification documents and other items used to promote the illegal act.

The detainees will be present at the first interrogation to learn about coercive measures.