Trader duped of Dh200k by duo with fake dollars

dubai — Two men allegedly defrauded an Indian businessman of Dh200,000, after one of them falsely claimed to him that he had $100,000 which he could not convert into the local currency because he did not have a proof he legally earned it, a Dubai court has heard.

The duo from Cameroon — one of them a fugitive — duped the victim after they called him asking for help by lending him Dh200,000 and in return, the businessman would keep the $100,000 as a security deposit until he could arrange for the required documents.

The case dates back to April 2 in Al Muraqqabat. Public prosecution records show the two defendants met the victim and his friend at a Deira hotel. One of them was carrying a briefcase (containing counterfeit notes) from which he took out two packets of $100. This made the victims believe their claims that they had brought the cash and gave them Dh200,000.

The two have been charged at the Court of First Instance with possession of fake notes for circulation and fraud. The fugitive, 35, is being tried in absentia. The 25-year-old Indian businessman, who fell victim to the pair, said during investigation: “He said he got my number from one of his friends. He claimed he had $100,000 which he could not convert into dirhams... He wanted my help by lending him Dh200,000 and for that he would deposit the dollar sum, which he would take back once he got the needed papers.”

The businessman added that the caller told him the “loan” would be for just a few days. “We later met at a hotel in Deira. He said the money was in his car. They showed me and my friend two packets of $100, which had us believe them. Soon after they took the money, they drove off. However, when we checked the bills, we found the first and last ones were real dollar notes while the ones in between were fake. We reported it right away to Al Muraqqabat police station.”

The other Indian businessman, aged 51, gave a similar statement to the investigating prosecutor. A policeman said they caught one of the accused near a car rental office. “We combed the same area after receiving the report. We had the suspects’ car description and found it near a car rental office. We spotted one of the suspects and chased him into the basement and caught him. He had dollar bills in his possession.”

The 24-year-old accused, who is detained, had come to Dubai on a visit visa. The trial will continue on July 9.