Missing Georgia man accused of running a $1million Super Bowl ticket scam gets arrested at a California spa after 'raising an employee's suspicions by being rude and paying with cash'
- Ketan Shah, 48, allegedly collected nearly $1 million dollars in exchange for Super Bowl tickets and VIP accommodations that he never intended delivering
- Shah allegedly swindled his own mother out of $36,000
- He went missing in early January, but Shah's alleged scheme was not uncovered until later in the month, ahead of the February 3 Super Bowl in Atlanta
- Upon arriving in California on Monday, Shah attempted to check in to a local spa
- An employee noticed Shah - who checked in with a 'girlfriend' - rudely asking to be served ahead of other guests waiting ahead of him at reception
- Shah attempted to pay in cash, which further raised the employee's suspicions
- The employee did a web search on Shah, learned he was wanted, and phoned police, who arrived and made the arrest. Shah is awaiting extradition to Georgia
Ketan Shah, 48, allegedly collected nearly $1 million dollars in exchange for Super Bowl tickets and VIP accommodations that he never intended delivering
The missing Georgia man accused of running a $1 million Super Bowl ticket scam on about a dozen people, including his mother, has been arrested at a California spa after inadvertently raising the suspicions of a hotel staffer with his rude behavior.
Ketan Shah, 48, allegedly collected nearly $1 million dollars in exchange for Super Bowl tickets and VIP accommodations that he never intended delivering.
In early January, before the alleged scam had been uncovered, Shah had been reported missing by his wife, who claimed he was going through a mid-life crisis. The allegations against Shah were made public at the end of January, before the February 3 Super Bowl in Atlanta.
According to a statement from Gwinnett County (Georgia) police, Shah recently traveled to Miami, Alabama, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Las Vegas, and California, where he is currently awaiting extradition following his arrest.
Shah arrived at the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, California on Monday, according to San Diego's ABC affiliate . It was there that a 19-year-old employee noticed Shah rudely demanding to be served ahead of other guests waiting ahead of him at reception
Shah arrived at the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, California on Monday, according to San Diego's ABC affiliate. It was there that a 19-year-old employee noticed Shah rudely demanding to be served ahead of other guests waiting ahead of him at reception.
'He came in with his girlfriend,' the employee, David Halliday, told San Diego's Channel 10. 'Just from the offset, he seemed a bit different from the usual guests we have in the spa.'
Share this article
Shah further raised Halliday's suspicions by paying cash.
It was then that Halliday did a web search on Shah's name, which revealed the Georgia businessman was wanted for theft.
Halliday reported the information to the local Riverside County Sheriff's Office. After confirming Ketan's identity, a local deputy made the arrest.
Gwinnett County police said in a news release Wednesday that at least six people reported that Shah offered to sell them Super Bowl tickets, and one said he paid $500,000 dollars for his company to host a Super Bowl event at an arena. Shah then disappeared.
Shah owns a printing company and had previously served on the board of a local YMCA
WSB-TV reports Ketan Shah's mother told police she lost $36,000 in the scam. John Brunetti tells WXIA-TV he lost $50,000. Both thought they were buying tickets from Shah to Super Bowl LIII on February 3 in Atlanta.
Shah faces a felony theft charge, but police say the investigation continues and more charges will be added.
Shah was being held in California until he can be brought back to Georgia. It wasn't clear whether he had a lawyer.
A Thursday statement on the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce's website says Shah has been suspended from its board of directors. The group says it has no connection to the alleged scheme.
Shah owns a printing company and had previously served on the board of a local YMCA.
WSB-TV reports Ketan Shah's mother told police she lost $36,000 in the scam. John Brunetti tells WXIA-TV he lost $50,000. Both thought they were buying tickets from Shah to Super Bowl LIII on February 3 in Atlanta (pictured)
Most watched News videos
- Gideon Falter on Met Police chief: 'I think he needs to resign'
- Staff confused as lights randomly go off in the Lords
- Shocking moment passengers throw punches in Turkey airplane brawl
- Shocking moment balaclava clad thief snatches phone in London
- Moment fire breaks out 'on Russian warship in Crimea'
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Shocking moment man hurls racist abuse at group of women in Romford
- China hit by floods after violent storms battered the country
- Shocking footage shows men brawling with machetes on London road
- Machete wielding thug brazenly cycles outside London DLR station
- Trump lawyer Alina Habba goes off over $175m fraud bond
- Mother attempts to pay with savings account card which got declined
