Italian police arrest two men for attempting to deposit a briefcase stuffed with fake bond certificates at the Vatican Bank.  Investigators suspect the men were planning to use the worthless papers as security to open a hefty line of credit. 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Davide Cardia said the would-be swindlers are a middle-aged Dutchman and an American.  They allegedly tried to bluff their way into “The Institute for Religious Works”, telling the Swiss Guards that “the Cardinals were expecting them.”  A quick check through the appointments knocked that down.

The document purported to be bonds from non-Italian companies, totaling close to an imaginary A$4.5 Trillion.

“The sum.. is impressive, even though it’s only symbolic because we're talking about false” certificates, said Cardia, who monitors financial transactions in Rome and the surrounding area.

Rome police did not release the suspects’ names.  But they did release the suspects on their own recognizance, even though they were suspected of attempting a similar scam in Asia.  Italian law does not doesn't require arrest for investigation of attempted fraud.