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 âbusted with the arrest of two membersâ by the local police here. The gang was selling fake gems and stones to gullible tourists. Two other âmembersâ 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 â 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 ânetworkâ. 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.