Aussie's urgent warning after losing $20,000 while overseas after a stranger tapped on his car window and told him there was a problem with his tyre

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:19, 5 April 2026 | Updated: 01:27, 5 April 2026 An Aussie has shared an urgent warning after $20,000 worth of valuables was stolen during a very daring scam while he was in Italy.  Anthony Moss arrived in the European country in December and collected a hire car from Avis at Milan Airport.  He had barely left the airport precinct when his trip took a dramatic turn. While stopped, a well‑dressed man approached the passenger-side window and pointed toward the front wheel, suggesting there was a problem with the tyre.  Moss got out of the still‑running car to check. As he leaned down, jet‑lagged and distracted, a second thief quietly moved in. Within moments, the boot and a rear door were opened and his luggage stolen. His suitcase and laptop bag vanished without him noticing. The stranger who raised the alarm about the tyre disappeared just as quickly. Anthony Moss (right) had around $20,000 worth of items stolen while travelling to Milan  The stolen items included a MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, a high‑end Panerai watch, about $2,000 in mixed currencies, and several expensive personal belongings.  Moss estimated the total loss at around $20,000. Originally from Melbourne and now also based in Malta, Moss is an experienced international traveller.  He runs HunterMoss, a luxury driving tour company specialising in high‑end European experiences. He believes the thieves deliberately targeted him after spotting his premium Rimowa suitcase and designer backpack. The precision, timing and coordination pointed to a professional operation rather than a random act of crime. After reporting the theft to police, Moss used AirTags hidden in his luggage and Apple's Find My tracking system to follow the trail. The signal showed his belongings moving from Milan by train before stopping near a remote wooded area close to a station. Anthony Moss fell to a complex scam while entering his hire car at Milan airport (file pictured)  When Moss went to investigate, he found evidence that other bags had been dumped and burnt, although his own luggage was no longer there. Eventually, his Macbook was recovered almost a month later, when he used the AirTag details to track his MacBook, sharing the information with Italian police.   The laptop had been remotely locked and wiped using Apple's Find My system, rendering it useless to anyone else. The ordeal turned what should have been a routine airport pickup into a costly overseas nightmare. Moss said he now wants to warn other Australians to stay alert, even in places that feel secure. 'You feel like you're safe because you're in an airport,' he told news.com.au. 'There's cameras, there are police and there is all those things around you, but there are people who target airports so you just have to be so careful of your surroundings and your belongings. 'I didn't expect to be distracted and targeted. It's hard, you're tired, you're getting off a flight, your brain's a bit foggy because you've got jet lag. Originally from Melbourne and now also based in Malta, Moss is an experienced international traveller 'I felt like an idiot, but I realise that it was done so professionally I had to hand it to those guys – a brilliant robbery.' Apple AirTags have become a favourite among Australians travelling overseas, particularly in Europe, where they effectively have unlimited range through Apple's Find My network. Many travellers have shared their experiences using AirTags in luggage, with one social media thread prompting widespread support. 'For the small investment they do add more information to the situation. Losing bags overseas is such a disarming experience,' one person wrote. 'AirTags [are] a definite!! Peace of mind especially if luggage goes missing - it helps airlines locate them quicker or in our case know when they're lying about its location,' another said. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.