Mumbai: A BMC sanitation worker was duped of Rs 18.27 lakh with the promise of receiving crores of rupees in exchange for old Rs 5 currency notes. The South Mumbai Region cyber police have registered a case against unknown persons.
Manoj Sapkal, 48, a resident of Calicut Street in south Mumbai, came across an advertisement on Facebook in October last year. The ad, posted by a firm named ‘M.S. COIN’, claimed that it offered crores of rupees in exchange for old currency notes. Sapkal, who had 13 old Rs 5 notes, contacted the number provided in the ad.
Someone named Sanjeev Kumar responded and said he would receive Rs 98.60 lakh in exchange but needed to pay an entry fee of Rs 1,200. He was later told that a company representative had arrived at Mumbai airport from Bengaluru and would deliver the money to his home the same evening. In a sudden twist, Sapkal got a call, claiming the man had been detained by cybercrime cops, following which he was coerced to pay a heavy price.
About Another Case
Similarly, two businessmen from Pune were duped of Rs 25 lakh in Chembur after being lured with an offer for Rs 50 lakh genuine currency notes at half price. The incident took place on April 30, and a case has been registered by the Nehru Nagar police against Pravin Mungse, Dashrath Lohote, Mukund Jha, and their accomplices.
The complainants are 43-year-old Santosh Khambe, a land dealer, and his partner Amit Karande. The duo was approached by Mungse, who introduced Lohote as his associate. The group then drove to the Surbhi Hotel at Swastik Chambers, where they met Jha. The trio informed Khambe and Karande that a third party would soon deliver the promised notes.
Later, two unknown men arrived and got into the car with the businessmen, claiming they would complete the deal at a nearby office. En route, they asked to stop the car on the Eastern Express Highway to check the cash. At that moment, another vehicle approached, and men carrying batons exited, shouting “Police!” Startled, Khambe and Karande watched as the fake cops took possession of the cash bag and drove away
