Hans and Greta, a sweet couple in their late seventies, rented my apartment. Hans had a neat silver mustache, and Greta had a kind, motherly demeanor. They paid rent on time, kept the place immaculate, and often invited me for tea. “Thank you so much for letting us stay here, Mark,” Hans said. They regaled me with stories of their adventures, such as getting lost in the Black Forest.

As their lease ended, Hans and Greta seemed rushed to move out. They assured me everything was fine. “Just some family matters,” Greta explained. On moving day, they handed me the keys and left hurriedly. “Thank you for everything, Mark. We hope to see you again someday,” Greta said.

When I inspected the apartment, I was shocked to find the floor missing. Hans explained via text, “In the Netherlands, it is a tradition to take the floor with you when you move out.” They rushed due to a family emergency. I decided to investigate further.

A private investigator revealed Hans and Greta were part of a scam. They stole valuable items, including my floorboards. We set up a sting operation and caught them selling the wood at an antique market. The real Hans and Greta, whose identities were stolen, later invited me to visit the Netherlands to experience genuine hospitality. “Dear Mark, we are so sorry for what happened. We hope you can find it in your heart to visit us and see the real Netherlands and meet its true people. With love, Hans and Greta.”