Poker pro busted in airport scam

“Hey, brother, can you spare a dollar?” It sounds like something out of an old Bing Crosby song, adjusted for inflation, of course. However, an on-again/off-again poker pro has been using that line to supposedly scam people out of their money across several different venues.

Michael Borovetz, who has won almost $600,000 in live action and has a WSOPC gold ring to his credit, was recently arrested at Newark Airport after he defrauded an unwitting traveler out of $200. The con artist reportedly approached the 55-year-old New Jersey man with a sad tune of financial hardship, and was given $200. Borovetz had claimed that his flight was canceled and he needed a place to stay for the night.

The victim and the fraudster parted ways, but the traveler started having second thoughts shortly after the scam occurred. He contacted the New Jersey Port Authority and they confirmed that it wasn’t the first time that the 43-year-old poker player had swindled someone out of money. In June 2017, Borovetz ran the same line against a man from San Jose, who fell for his tall tale and gave him some cash.

Fortunately, airports have cameras. Additionally, hotels at airports typically have cameras. Borovetz was tracked to the Newark Airport Marriott, where he was promptly arrested.