Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 29: A gang of professional cheats, who have been able to convince dealers to part with costly electronic gadgets against fake demand drafts (DD), has been active in the city and elsewhere, going by the fact that it has been able to defraud several dealers.

It is gathered that two unidentified persons conversing in Hindi had approached an establishment near PVS Junction that is engaged in sale of cameras on the evening of March 16. After checking a number of cameras, the strangers left, telling the shopkeeper that they had not brought cash for the purchase. On the next evening, they came there again, and sought to order two cameras, Canon 700 B and 7D. On the next day, which happened to be Saturday, they called to ask whether the cameras are ready.

Within minutes the dealers got a phone call saying that the car of the callers had developed problems and as such, the intending buyers would not be able to personally come to the shop. The dealer was informed that a taxi driver would come there to pick up the cameras. At around 10.30 am, a man who claimed himself to be Abdulla, handed over demand draft for Rs 1,67,500 and took away two cameras. The DD, which appeared to be issued by Syndicate Bank, Mumbai on behalf of a Karwar-based concern, was made payable in the city.

The dealers delivered the DD to the bank for being credited to their account on Monday, and the very next day, got to know that the DD was fake. During further verification, it was found that the telephone number of purchasers, and the Karwar-based firm they had referred to, were non-existent. Luckily, the CCTVs in the shop recorded the footage of the two men who had come to the shop on March 16.

It is said that similar tactics were used to hoodwink a shop dealing in cameras and another firm dealing in computers at Mysuru.

The owners of the shop has since filed complaint in Bunder police station here, who have launched an investigation.