Gang duping foreign tourists busted

shere

There are some seriously gullible people out there.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050708/cth1.htm

Gang duping foreign tourists busted
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 7
A gang of cheats operating in Manali and Jaipur, accused of duping foreign tourists, was today “busted with the arrest of two members” by the local police here. The gang was selling fake gems and stones to gullible tourists. Two other “members” of the gang are at large, said the police.

The two arrested persons, Alok Sharma, alias Ronnie, and Sahedu Din, alias Yogi, were today produced before a local court.

Addressing a gathering of mediapersons, UT Superintendent of Police (Headquarters and incharge of the Economic Offences Wing) Dinesh Bhatt said a case of cheating was registered in the Sector 17 police station on Wednesday on the basis of a complaint filed by a UK resident, Mr Mel Ashley Barton.

Mr Barton came to India as a tourist in the first week of June this year. He went to Manali for sight-seeing. There, he met four persons — namely Alok Sharma, alias Ronnie, Ram Manihar Sharma, alias Sebestian, Ashiq Ali, alias Mike, and Sahedu Din, alias Yogi, on June 13.

They befriended him and offered him gemstones at cheap rates. They reportedly showed him a ruby, sapphire, peridot and aquamarine.

Mr Barton said he came to Chandigarh with Alok and Sebestian on June 15. The next day, they went to Prince Jewellers in Sector 22. The accused sold him gems for Rs 2.34 lakh. The payment was made through a mastercard.

Thereafter, they told Mr Barton that it would not be safe to carry precious stones with him. They allegedly assured him that they would send the stones through a parcel to the UK.

They asked Mr Barton to write his name, address, passport number on the parcel. When the complainant objected to this, he was reportedly told that the parcel would reach him in London through their ‘network’. Mr Barton further said the parcel was made at the Post Office in Sector 30.

Mr Barton returned to London on June 17, but did not get the parcel. When contacted, the accused did not give a satisfactory reply. Realising that he had been cheated, he came back to India on June 28. He was told by the post office that his parcel may have reached Amritsar due to non-delivery.

A trap was laid in Sector 22 following information that the members of the gang were coming to Chandigarh along with another foreigner. A police team headed by Inspector Bakshish Singh nabbed the accused this morning. Mr Leland Richard Beaumont, a US national was saved from becoming another victim.

Digital Drifter

How do they fall for this?

HOW?

This has nigerian scam version written all over it. and if it's too good to be true.......

and why am I not meeting such gullible chaps who are willing to fork out large sums without thinking?

I positively demand that my retirement income be guaranteed by these people!

PT barnum must be quite bored by now.

Nick-H

I'm puzzled by the mention of Prince Jewellers. They have several shops in Chennai and are obviously a big and reputable company.

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Digital Drifter

That's a pretty common name for shops.

sort of like the red lion pub? Fracas at the red lion pub, would that be in your n'hood or anyone of the several hundreds all across the country.

LaContessa

I came to the conclusion a long time ago, that people often do "silly" things that when travelling in unfamiliar places. Silly things they would NEVER contemplate at home, like buying gem stones off complete strangers in the street, or giving strangers their credit card details or large amounts of cash.

I don't know why. And I'm sure they don't either when asked at a later date... Just happens.

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Nick-H

Oh.

I never thought of that!

<considers changing sig to something to do with tubelights...>

seventies'hippy

I seem to remember quite recently that there someone on here who mentioned about a guy selling jewellery who he'd bumped into both in manali & jaipur,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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crvlvr

that's ~$5,000! I am surprised the credit card transaction went through without a manual authorization requirement. Also, I don't know what the rules are in the UK, but, here in the US, you can dispute almost anything that was charged on your credit card for instant credit and the banks will work out the dispute with the Merchant. Heck, i can go on-line, lookup my statement and click on the transactions I want to dispute. Its as simple as that.

dzibead

Oh, and Nick - when you're planning to meet your friends for lunch at the Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant, remember to tell them WHICH ONE!

iyou

It's always down to GREED, pure and simple.
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iyou

If he signed the credit slip then he's made a promise to pay the charge. I don't see how he could dispute anything afterwards. Just my 2 cents.
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dzibead

Not if the transaction was fraudulent and the goods were not as represented. (Speaking off the top of my head, but the top of my head does have some "law" stuffed in it somewhere up there.)

manojb

The credit dispute clause sometimes doesn't apply to foreign transactions.

livin-in-india

my US credit card won't allow me to dispute any item made more than 150 miles from my home (or something like that).

the credit card companies easily resolve disputes with american companies because the companies will quickly reverse the charges to maintain good standing with the banking sector (too many problems and they loose their status as a credit card accepting merchant).

however, once the credit card company makes the payment to these indian frauds, the company isn't going to give you a credit and absorb the loss themselves. that is not their role- to bail you out.

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