From Prison Businesses Defrauded and Extorted
Being in prison didn't stop two from defrauding and extorting a number of businesses, according to the fraud section of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ).

Roberto Maya Rosales and Gerardo Castillo Marín, both inmates at the Centro Penitenciario La Reforma, en San Rafael de Alajuela, are suspected of defrauding more than a million colones form a number of businesses than those that have already come forward with a complaint.

Judicial police, searching the cells at the prison found a cellular phone from where the extortion calls originated, including a number of documents related to the investigation, but no further details were given.

Police say the two men had help on the outside. Though details are sketchy, police say a call would be made by the men to a local business, usually with a foreign accent, placing an order for merchandise to be delivered.

When the delivery arrived, the delivery person was told that the person who placed the order was not available and could leave the shipment in his or her care, and given direction to another location to pick up payment.

When the delivery person goes to the new location to collect, there is no one there, meanwhile back at the original location there is no one to be found. A call is then made to the business demanding payment in exchange for return of merchandise.

A woman, Castillo's better half, would then make the money pickup. The woman was also arrested by police and is free on condition she not leave the country and sign in every two weeks.

Cash on delivery (COD) orders are a common practice.