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Journalism of Courage
A former Pakistani beauty queen has been accused of duping scores of Californians in an elaborate loan scam before fleeing the US.
Saman Hasnain,who won the 2008 Miss Pakistan World beauty pageant,and her husband Jawad,have been accused of duping homeowners into giving them money for a loan-modification scam which they operated from 2008 until October 2010.
Saman is being described by the US media as a scam artist who cheated homeowners after impressing them with her appearance,almond-shaped eyes,flawless skin and full beautiful lips.
The money ripped off was used to buy plastic surgery for Saman,and pay for a Mercedes and the mortgage on their $2.2 million home.
The couple charged homeowners at least $4,500 and often more to renegotiate their mortgages with banks.
Korina Diaz,a waitress who lost her ranch after paying the couple $11,500 to lower her mortgage payments,and her husband were so impressed by what the Hasnains were promising them,they invited 30 friends over to to listen to the couple talk about their loan-modification scheme. Many of them signed up and lost thousands of dollars as well as their homes.
Diaz and her family now live in a tiny apartment after a bank took their home due to missed mortgage payments.
Prosecutor Victor Chen said it was Samans striking appearance that led residents to trust her with their money.
After the scam came to light,the couple was charged with ripping off 17 people,a number which doesnt even come close to the real number of victims,Chen said. He believes the couple defrauded around 80 to 100 families.
But before they could be held,the couple fled with their two sons to Lahore. Officials said there was little they could do now as Pakistan has no extradition treaty with US.
