20 February,2021 07:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Photo for representational purpose
A father-son duo were conned of Rs 5 lakh after they gave the money in exchange of dollars worth Rs 20 lakh and received just bundles of blank papers.
They were allegedly duped by a gang in Andheri East area, stated a report in India Today.
A case was registered with Saki Naka police station after a complaint was filed by the son, Martin.
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Martin, who works as a security officer in a passenger cruise ship in Australia, had come to India recently to meet his family which lives in Mira Road area.
According to officials, Martin went to a market with his father recently where he met a woman who told him she has currency notes in dollars and needs Indian cash in return.
After the conversation, Martin and the woman exchanged numbers.
A police officer said, "On February 10, Martin, along with the woman and his father, reached Saki Naka metro station. After some time, one old woman with three young men came there. The woman told Martin that the dollars belonged to the old woman."
"The old woman gave Martin 20 notes of dollars and all were real. The woman then told Martin that she has 1,457 more such notes which were worth Rs 20 lakh approximately. However, she said she will give them only in exchange for Rs 5 lakh," police added.
Later, Martin and his father returned home. As the dollars given by the old woman were real, the duo decided to buy all other dollar bills from the woman.
Police said, "A few days later, Martin and his father met the same old woman who had brought the dollars in one bag. She took Rs 5 lakh in cash [India rupees] from Martin. However, when Martin tried to open the bag, the woman told him it was unsafe and asked to open it after they [the duo] reached home."
"The older woman immediately left from the spot. Later, when Martin and his father were sitting in a car, they opened the bag only to find bundles of paper," police said.
An FIR was registered in the case. Further investigation is underway.
