Three Bangladeshi nationals of a four-member gang were arrested for allegedly cheating people by claiming to sell US dollars at a low price, police officials said here today.
The police arrested Mohammed Halal, a native of Sylhet city in Bangladesh, Mohammed Masud Rana of Bagerhat district and Hasina of Sunamganj district in Bangladesh, but the main accused Bilal Shaikh is still absconding, DCP (Law and Oder) C M Thrivikrama Varma and DCP (Crimes) T Ravi Kumar Murthy said.
The police also seized seven currency notes of 20 US dollars and four notes of one dollar denomination, besides Indian currency worth Rs 29,210 and six cellular phones, the police officials said.
The police claimed that the gang reached Visakhapatnam around six months ago and committed three cheating offences under One-Town Maharanipeta and MVP Colony police stations limits.
Explaining the modus of operandi, police said that the gang wrapped a bundle of newspapers, cut in the size of currency notes, and attached one or two US dollar notes on top and below of each bundle.
After this, they allegedly approached people claiming that they offer US dollars at a cheaper exchange rate of about Rs 30 per US dollar.
They also gave one or two US dollars to convince the victims, after which they would ask them for original Indian currency in exchange for the fake bundle of US dollars, police said.
After taking original Indian currency from the people, the gang used to flee the spot within minutes, even before the victims opened the fake bundle of US dollars, they added.
