Two Cameroon nationals held for Rs.30 lakh fraud

Two Cameroon nationals were arrested here for cheating a Pune-based person on the pretext of giving Black Dollars, police said Thursday.

Simplice Manfred, 34, and Roland Guiffo, 30, were arrested from Paharganj area in central Delhi Wednesday, on the complaint of Pune-resident Narinder Pal who filed it Jan 21.

"On Jan 12, the two accused befriended Pal online and told him that they had Black Dollars worth Rs.1 crore and in order to convert them into legitimate dollars, they need some chemical to be extracted from Indian Rupee notes, and for that they need Rs.30 lakh and that too in denomination of Rs.1,000," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Parmaditya.

Black Dollars were just a black colour paper, he said.

They asked him to arrange Rs.30 lakh and in lieu of this they assured him 25 percent of the cleaned dollars and his Rs.30 lakh, intact. They asked him to come to Delhi, the officer said.

On Jan 18, both the foreign nationals visited the hotel room in central Delhi where Pal was staying.

They took the money from him, wrapped it in an Aluminium foil and put it into the box. Thereafter, they poured some chemical into the box and connected the box with an electric socket.

"After some time, Simplice Malfred took the box into the bathroom and handed over the bundle wrapped in a warm cloth to the complainant, directing him to open the bundle only after two days, otherwise the rupees would be spoiled," another official said.

"They left the hotel on the pretext of arranging chemicals to clean the Black Dollars but did not turn up. Thereafter, the accused persons contacted the complainant on telephone and asked him to arrange Rs.10 lakh more, saying that the chemical is expensive and more money is required," the officer added.

Pal turned suspicious, opened the wrapped bundle, and found black papers instead of the rupees, police said, citing his complaint.