According to the AFP, some genius in India faked his kidnapping because he needed money for a gambling trip. Pawan Verma, a 22-year-old in New Delhi, staged his own kidnapping and demanded $40,000 from his father so he could make a trip to Macau, where he wanted to celebrate New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend with a night of partying, gambling and other excesses.

Apparently, Verma doesn’t have enough spare time in his life to watch any of the American movies where someone stages a kidnapping in order to get some money. Spoiler alert: It never ends well! When you get out of jail, though, Mr. Verma, I would suggest watching Fargo. It’s the best of the fake-kidnapping movies.

The case against Verma is pretty good. What makes them think he staged the kidnapping? Well, the authorities were tipped off when Verma was seen at the drop site picking up the random money…Yes, folks. This rocket scientist actually went to the drop himself instead of sending someone else and somehow didn’t expect to be recognized. He thought his dad would just drop off $40,000 without having anyone watching? I imagine it went down something like this:

Verma’s father: Look, there’s somebody heading over to the duffle bag now!

Cops: Okay, team. Get ready to move in.

Verma’s father: What the f–? It’s Pawan!

Cops: What?

Verma’s father: That’s my son! I can’t believe it! He’s okay!

Cops: Are you sure it’s him? It can’t be someone else?

Verma’s father: Are you saying we all look the same? No, it’s him; I know it. Thank God…Wait, he’s taking the money. He’s walking away…That son of a—

Verma, not surprisingly, was arrested. The authorities found it hard to believe that he had a legitimate reason for picking up the ransom money when he was supposed to be kidnapped at that time. A police officer in New Delhi told the press that Verma wanted to treat his girlfriend for New Year’s. He “wanted to fulfill her wish but was not able to bear the expenses.”

Maybe he should have just come clean. It’s always tough when you have to tell your girlfriend you can’t afford something, but I think that’s a little less damaging to the relationship than getting arrested for faking your own kidnapping. Add to that the fact that, if he needed to conduct this scheme to afford the gambling trip, this man has no business gambling in the first place! You should never gamble money that you can’t afford to lose, and I think it’s safe to say that if Verma had to con his dad out of $40,000 to hit the casino, he fits in the can’t afford to lose category.

A police offer said that if the father wishes, the charges against Verma will be dropped. My opinion: He should go to jail and be banned from ever visiting a casino…and from having kids.