A 63-year-old businessman from Safdarjung Enclave, Delhi, was scrolling through social media when he saw an ad claiming rare antique coins could be worth a fortune. Although he wasn’t exactly looking to make money off his old coins but the Ad caught his attention.
Curious, he decided to find out more.
“Hello, sir. We are collectors of rare and old coins. If you have any, we can offer you lakhs, even crores, depending on the rarity,” the voice on the other end of the call said smoothly.
“I do have some old coins from my grandfather’s collection,” the businessman admitted.
“Fantastic! You might be sitting on a goldmine. But first, there’s a small registration process… a nominal fee, sir. Just ₹25,000.”
That was just the beginning.
The Price of Curiosity
What started as a simple inquiry quickly turned into a nightmare. The scamsters, operating from multiple locations across Rajasthan and Nuh, played their roles flawlessly.
They created fake documents, posed as intermediaries of international collectors, and convinced him that his coins were highly valuable.
Each time he paid an amount, a new requirement surfaced.
There were ‘certifications’ to be obtained, ‘processing fees’ to be paid, and ‘security clearances’ to be taken care of. The businessman, already deep in, kept transferring money, hoping that the bigger payout was just around the corner.
Months passed, and before he realized it, he had sent ₹33 lakh.
Then, the tone changed.
“Sir, we need another Rs 5 lakh to finalize the deal,” the scammer insisted.
“I can’t send more. I’ve already paid too much,” the businessman finally pushed back.
And then came the real shocker.
The Threat
Within days of refusing the payment, he received a call from someone claiming to be a police officer.
“Sir, we have received a complaint against you for dealing in illegal antiquities. We have a case registered against you,” the voice threatened.
Fear gripped him. Was he in trouble? Was this whole thing illegal?
But then it hit him, if they were real police, why were they asking for money to ‘close the case’?
It was the wake-up call he needed. He immediately approached the authorities, and after an investigation, the real police managed to trace and arrest some of the scammers.
Lessons to Learn
The businessman wasn’t alone. Across India, many have been trapped in similar scams, lured by promises of big money for items they assumed were worthless.
These criminals are experts at psychological manipulation, playing on greed and fear in equal measure.
So, the next time someone tells you that an old coin in your drawer is worth a fortune, think twice before you transfer a single rupee.
Because as this case shows, the only ones getting rich from such deals are the scammers.
