Navi Mumbai Woman Scammed in $1,600 Currency Fraud

A 38-year-old woman from Badlapur, Thane district, was swindled out of Rs 1 lakh by three unidentified con artists who promised her US dollars in exchange for Indian currency, police reported on Wednesday. The victim, who operates a small eatery in Kopri village, Navi Mumbai, fell prey to a sophisticated scam orchestrated over a phone call.

According to the APMC police, the fraudsters contacted the woman, convincing her to hand over Rs 1 lakh in exchange for USD 1,600 at an attractive rate. On Monday, the accused visited her eatery, collected the cash, and vanished without delivering the promised foreign currency. The incident has raised concerns about the rising tide of financial scams targeting small business owners in the region.

Following the victim's complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities are now analyzing CCTV footage from the area and tracing the phone number used by the perpetrators to track them down.

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This incident highlights the dangers of engaging in unofficial currency exchange deals, especially through unverified sources. Local police have issued a public advisory, urging residents to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of such transactions. "Always use authorized channels for currency exchange to avoid falling victim to fraud," said a senior official from APMC police station.

The case remains under investigation, with efforts underway to identify and apprehend the culprits. Authorities are also encouraging the public to report any suspicious financial schemes to prevent further incidents.

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