- Title: Indian conmen used 'spacesuits' to dupe businessman of over $200,000
- Date: 10th May 2018
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (MAY 8, 2018) (ANI - NO ACCESS MEDIACORP/BBC) VARIOUS OF CONMEN VIRENDER MOHAN BRAR AND NITIN MOHAN DRESSED IN SPACESUITS AS OFFICIALS STAND BEHIND THEM CONMAN, NITIN MOHAN STANDING IN SPACESUIT CONMAN, VIRENDER MOHAN BRAR STANDING IN SPACESUIT VARIOUS OF CONMEN STANDING COPPER PLATE WHICH THE CONMEN CLAIMED HAD SPECIAL PROPERTIES (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NEW DELHI, BHISHAM SINGH, SAYING: "The conmen told the businessman that there's this metal called 'Rice Puller' which attracts rice grains towards it and NASA pays millions for such a metal. For the process of selling the metal, they charged fees for testing which required a spacesuit, chemicals and a scientist. They duped the businessman, who is a garment exporter, of 14.3 million rupees ($212,000)." VARIOUS OF SINGH SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NEW DELHI, BHISHAM SINGH, SAYING: "They (conmen) told the victim that he will have to go to the lab where the metal, called 'rice puller' is kept. They tell the victim that a scientist has been called in and for whom a special suit has been bought or rented which would cost 1.25 million rupees ($18,000) for a one-time use. The scientist will then go in the lab wearing the suit and will test the metal with the chemical to check whether the metal is genuine or not; then their con-scientist tells the victim that the metal is of even better quality, making a case for cheating more money out of the businessman." VARIOUS OF BRAR (RED AND BLUE STRIPES) AND MOHAN (BLACK SHIRT) STANDING WITH OFFICIALS BOARD READING (English): 'OFFICE OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CRIME, DELHI'
- Embargoed: 24th May 2018 13:01
- Keywords: NASA Business Fraud Fraud Patent Delhi New Delhi copper plate India Businessman duped Miracle Metal Rice puller
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0018FACP51
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Indian police paraded a father-son duo in space suits and arrested them for duping a businessman by pretending to work for Nasa.
The duo allegedly convinced the New Delhi businessman to buy a copper plate with "special qualities" that "attracts rice grains" for about $212,000 which they claimed had "special properties", police said. They had told him that with his investment, they could sell the plate to the U.S. space agency for "billions of dollars", according to local media.
The duo staged fake tests and claimed that they have arranged for a scientist who would be required to wear special suits to carry out the procedure, and asked for money to develop the device.
The two conmen bought the fake space suits for Rs 1,200-1,500 rupees ($17-$22) and claimed that using it once cost 1.25 million rupees ($18,000).
The conmen apparently coated the copper plate with rice mixed with small iron wires to fool the victim. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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