This is Ecuador (Thinkstock)

File this under “truth is stranger than fiction”: In the most hilarious case of identity theft ever, the government of Ecuador tricked 40 Ecuadorean tourists into thinking they were visiting Costa Rica, when they were actually still in Ecuador.

This was no ordinary ruse: Local airline Tame, the South American country’s tourism ministry, and its and Ministry of Transport and Public Works were all in on it together.



The con included everything from planted souvenirs at the airport, to forged immigration documentation, to fake traffic signs and license plates.

The unknowing “tourists” even went hiking and swimming during their “visit.”

After their return to the airport, the jig was up. An “Esencial Costa Rica” banner was torn down and an Ecuadorean “Love Life” tourism slogan was revealed. Ecuador said on their official tourism website that “it was at the end of the adventure when travelers learned that all the time they were in Ecuador and to experience all these great moments there was no need to go elsewhere.”

The scam came to light via a Youtube video of the shenanigans. Ecuador put the video up, but took it down after criticism. The tourism ministry has since apologized to the Central American country.

This is Costa Rica (Thinkstock)

After all, isn’t imitation the highest form of flattery? Costa Rican officials seem to think so: “The advantage is that they used Costa Rica as one of the most beautiful countries to visit,” Costa Rica Tourism Minister Wilhelm von Breymann told the Tico Times. “We’re very proud they used Costa Rica as an example where everyone wants to visit. It’s a sign that we’re doing things right.”

Related: Hotel Insider: Eco Luxury on Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula





WATCH: Ecuador Pretended It Was Costa Rica

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