World Cup criminals cheat desperate fans out of $1.7 million

A Mexican woman was one of three people who allegedly scammed ticket-hungry World Cup fans out of nearly $1.7 million — including holding one desperate customer at gunpoint, authorities said.Lidia Silvia Cruz was taken into custody recently in Tlalnepantla de Baz, just north of Mexico City, for allegedly robbing the eager fan and scamming others who sought the hard-to-get tickets to the June 11 tournament opener in the country’s capital.Cruz and her boyfriend Simón Selmen, who is still on the run, allegedly agreed to meet up with a couple on May 22 at bank branch in the city of Coacalco, authorities said.They told the victims to get into a car, then allegedly threatened them with a gun before fleeing with $4,600.

The pair are believed to have robbed fans out of almost $870,000 in all, according to Imagen TV.Another accused scammer, Edgar Ramírez, was also on the run after authorities said the 35-year-old sold nearly the same amount, $870,000, in tickets to fans for the Mexican national team’s opening game at Estadio Azteca.Ramírez allegedly sold more than 60 tickets but failed to meet fans, claiming his mom had died — then stopped answering their calls and messages as match day got closer, authorities said.His wife, Areli Nava, reported him missing June 8, but he resurfaced the day of the game, promising 50 customers that he would meet them outside the iconic stadium, but he never showed.Ramírez claimed he had access to the tickets through a sponsor.“He asked us to wear a black T-shirt, light-colored jeans, and white sneakers, and told us to meet at the door at 10 a.m.,” a fan said.The State of Mexico Attorney General’s Office did not respond to The Post’s request for comment....