And are you smart? "Ukrainian businessman" defrauded Salinas Pliego with some Elektra shares.

Kiev of frauds.- Ricardo Salinas Pliego was swindled by a Ukrainian company, and it seems that someone turned out to be as clever as the television magnate presumed.

According to The Times , the owner of Grupo Salinas was allegedly defrauded using false documents and shell companies, resulting in a transaction worth more than $416 million, which ultimately ruined the brilliant Mexican businessman. And well, maybe that's karma for not paying taxes.

The Astor surname—historically associated with British wealth and aristocracy—was used to defraud Mexican businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego in a scam worth more than $416 million, The Times reported . pic.twitter.com/B6vK0Bmbjv

— EL CEO (@elceo__) May 20, 2025

Salinas Pliego must have thought he was already doing international business.

The international fraud was orchestrated by an individual identified as Vladimir Sklarov, who allegedly posed as a supposed heir to the Astor family and saw the owner of TV Azteca as a fledgling approaching the fair.

The same British outlet explains that Astor Asset granted a $113.8 million loan to the Mexican, using Elektra shares as collateral, which were later sold without authorization. The funds were transferred to bank accounts in Monaco, in the names of the Ukrainian's relatives, and Grupo Salinas's debt for the loan remained unpaid.

A judicial investigation in the United Kingdom has revealed an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud against Mexican businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego, perpetrated by the investment fund Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd. Read more at 👇👇👇👇 https://t.co/mirT0oj0PM pic.twitter.com/eHqS9aIxDX

— El Censal (@ElCensal) May 22, 2025

It's worth mentioning that the actions of Astor Asset Management were brought before a court in the United Kingdom, prompting authorities to freeze the organization's funds. But the embezzlement of the well-to-do magnate's coffers was already complete.

“There is strong evidence to suggest that Mr. Sklarov used the Astor name precisely to deceive the plaintiffs into believing he was the plaintiff, and that this was his modus operandi for the stock lending schemes he perpetuated,” the judge hearing the case said—and who may not be aware of certain unpaid tax credits owed by the plaintiff.

To continue the laughs: a couple was watching fireworks at home and one ended up flying through their balcony.