Update: Calgary Barb Wire Sabotage Turns out to be Fraud by leelau

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brucie1 (Jul 23, 2017 at 11:22)

There are a few names kicking around for a new trail. One is Barbed Liar or Go Fund me. Would be great to see this happen.

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mungbean (Jul 23, 2017 at 11:33)

I'm partial to "Go Fund Yourself"

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kpickrell (Jul 23, 2017 at 16:50)

I like "Barbed Liar" but instead of naming a trail after him, couldn't someone just brand that on his forehead?

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fsomji (Jul 23, 2017 at 22:34)

Im in for "Barbed Liar"

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fogolin2 (Jul 24, 2017 at 11:15)

Gash for Cash ?
Severed Head ?
Mack and Stelios' Big Adventure?

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brycemtb (Jul 24, 2017 at 16:28)

We are hoping the shitters after parking lot improvements at west Bragg is named the "stelios shitter"

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cranny (Jul 25, 2017 at 6:32)

@mungbean: hahaha love it

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brianthegreat (Jul 23, 2017 at 11:32)

Cam McRae did a ton of work on this story. nsmb.com/articles/rcmp-statement-re-barbed-wire-claimant

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madmon (Jul 24, 2017 at 21:34)

massive respect to Cam for the endless hours of work on this and many more.

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cerealkilla (Jul 23, 2017 at 22:19)

I guarantee this POS will make up a new Facebook account, and try to do a similar thing again. Perps do not just change their MO entirely after one good busting. Guys like this lie as easily as they breathe, and he thinks he's way smarter than everyone. He'll try to improve his approach, learn from his mistakes (the ones that got him caught, not the moral and legal errors), and come back with a whole new schtick. If he is luck to avoid jail time, he'll be convinced it was due to his brilliant acting. I hope he gets time. Hardened criminals will eat him for lunch.

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leelau (Jul 23, 2017 at 22:43)

A large part of the reason for pushing to have this updated was to add to Google SEO for Stelios's name so his fraud would be recorded for posterity along with other articles. Perhaps he doesn't get time. But his days of infamy will be preserved and hopefully others will know what they're dealing with

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brycebee (Jul 24, 2017 at 8:47)

@leelau: maybe repost the guys pic too

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leelau (Jul 24, 2017 at 9:49)

@BryceBorlick: that's not a bad idea. Will add them

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jayacheess FL (Jul 23, 2017 at 19:03)

Ugh. I feel like an ass for defending that human garbage. Super, super lame.

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benhg (Jul 23, 2017 at 21:53)

compassion isn't the sign of an ass. Don't beat yourself up over it.

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leelau (Jul 23, 2017 at 22:40)

@jayacheees what @benhg said. He came across when I interviewed him as someone who really believed his own schtick ; quasi-delusional.

I'm relieved that no sabotage occurred

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bohns (Jul 24, 2017 at 9:49)

@benhg: I did the same at the beginning.. Although I did think he was
embellishing when he said his 2008 stumpy was worth 8k..Not even then was it anywhere close.

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Ducimus (Jul 23, 2017 at 19:15)

The investigating office did a lot of work tracking down the right people needed to get evidence for a charge. She did a great job.

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Compasteedee (Jul 23, 2017 at 13:13)

Stellianos Psaroudakis has actually tried scams like this before. He's now been arrested by the Cochrane RCMP, after turning himself in. He is a pretty repugnant person.

I personally am for "Barbed Liar".

Source: m.calgarysun.com/2017/07/21/man-charged-after-reporting-he-struck-barbed-wire-bike-was-stolen

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eblackwell FL (Jul 23, 2017 at 19:15)

Him getting caught for fraud is all well and good, but the best thing to come out of this whole incident is the hilarious image of someone close-lining the sh*t out of themselves riding an electric trike!

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Lwchin (Jul 23, 2017 at 16:55)

So basically the guy does something really stupid, then tries to cover it up with a really poorly thought out story. To this point, I can kind of understand; people try to pull that kind of stuff all the time.

But then proceeds to make the leap to profiting from it by preying on others peoples sympathy and playing it out as being the victim. There is a special place in hell for people like this.

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shortcuttomoncton (Jul 24, 2017 at 4:40)

“I try to do something good and now everybody’s calling me a liar, calling me a fraudster. I’m none of those things, I just wanted to help.”

Once you meet enough fraudsters, you'll start to notice that it is never their fault - the scam is because of someone else (I found this amazing deal! I know someone who can guarantee a great return! I need help because someone did this bad thing to me!) and when caught it's never their fault, either.

Sad stuff.

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Gasket-Jeff (Jul 23, 2017 at 18:32)

I found watching the whole storey unravel very entertaining. I think we should set up a gofundme for his legal defence (does not really need to go to legal fees) and put the money to trail maintenance. Barbed Lair has been my fave

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VwHarman (Jul 23, 2017 at 14:58)

Kudos to those that looked at the facts and didn't just get swayed by the social justice bent of these types of stories. If people really do this stuff, they should be punished. Thankfully, if they lie about it happening, they get punished as well. Good job society.

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lazyname (Jul 23, 2017 at 19:36)

Please... please let there be someone with cell phone or GoPro footage of the actual incident. I would watch it 1000 times.

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leelau (Jul 24, 2017 at 9:49)

I requested but there was none. The witnesses were too surprised

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ryoy (Jul 24, 2017 at 14:58)

Though I haven't seen them with my own eyes I have friends in the car club community that said he posted scams in those forums as well. Seems like fraud is nothing new to him.

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leelau (Jul 24, 2017 at 15:03)

I looked in multiple Calgary/Edmonton/Alberta used car forums, on Craigslist and on other scam warning sites and could not find any mention of his name. Unfortunately, without the actual posted warning anything else was so much useless hearsay.

There was lots of second hand information reported - all of which was hearsay. But ultimately what brought the fraud charges was the direct incontrovertible eye-witness evidence from the people who reported the true circumstances of the incident (the electric trike) to the RCMP. Tip of the hat to them

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william-bailey (Jul 23, 2017 at 14:16)

I enjoy the word repugnant !

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jerome (Jul 23, 2017 at 20:20)

on the bright side, we can all appreciate the fact that we have good people in the MTB community that wanted to be sure all the other trails were safe!

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bucky99 (Jul 24, 2017 at 19:04)

Ok hold on.... so the dog is OK right?

4 1

oesk1 (Jul 23, 2017 at 14:54)

this is actually pretty funny

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serginhocdn (Jul 23, 2017 at 11:35)

This is all just ridiculous, where people like him wanted to get at and what they really get out of it ?
Depressing !

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Adamrideshisbike (Jul 23, 2017 at 14:51)

Just as bad as pretending to have cancer. There are some wonderful campaigns that help people and to make everyone think twice about giving in the future is shameful.

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LTP-Sports (Jul 24, 2017 at 7:52)

So, what happens to the money that people sent to the gofundme campaign? (if there was any)

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leelau (Jul 24, 2017 at 7:58)

Never disbursed or refunded according to gofundme

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mikejwise (Jul 24, 2017 at 18:39)

Money was held and I believe recently confirmed to be refunded to the donors. Happy to hear all of that. Was fishy right from the start.

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trevorrr (Jul 24, 2017 at 7:21)

I vote "Go Fund Yourself" or "Chihuahua Backpack"

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friendlyfoe (Jul 23, 2017 at 20:38)

Upvoted for being too decent of a person to even imagine someone being capable of doing something like that

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beeboo (Jul 23, 2017 at 21:03)

This guy got what he deserved. From day one I knew is was all fake. Kudos to the RCMP for all their detective work!

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TheLongMan (Jul 24, 2017 at 0:52)

I vote for a trail in his honor called "Trike Moron"

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jitenshakun (Jul 24, 2017 at 7:38)

NSMB has been doing some great reporting on this, including a follow up piece for the RCMP's statement.

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shanekats (Jul 24, 2017 at 9:43)

"Mysterious Mack"
"Mack Attack"

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BTKMADDOG (Jul 24, 2017 at 8:37)

Hope he wasn't doing all this to buy a Specialized

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TheDoctoRR (Jul 24, 2017 at 20:49)

Apparently you have to be Canadian to comment on this article...

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arrowheadrush (Jul 25, 2017 at 8:31)

Someone threw off the all-Canadian streak, its Jamaican me crazy!