webofevil | James "Whitey" Bulger

In mid-January it was reported—here, for example—that there had been a sighting of one of America’s most wanted men, Boston organised crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger, who has been on the run for over 10 years, in Italy with his girlfriend. The FBI and Scotland Yard were both said to be involved in tracking him.

The story made it to Germany’s equivalent of Crimewatch, Aktenzeichen XY … ungelöst, which broadcast the photo on the right allegedly showing Bulger on holiday with his girlfriend. Unfortunately the picture the police had got excited about was actually of German estate agent Frank Anselm and his wife, a fact not lost on German estate agent Frank Anselm and his wife as they watched the programme with some surprise.

“Mr Schmidt, my neighbour, came around with a bottle of beer and said he didn’t know I had a sideline, while my mother-in-law took it as an opportunity to tell my wife of 30 years what a mistake she had made in marrying me,” said Anselm. “I spent the next two days convincing the neighbours, boss and family that I am not a crime lord from Boston who has served time in Alcatraz.” [Source: Ananova]