How did a trader get duped with 'fake' gold biscuits in Bengal?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Be cautious when engaging in high-value trades.
- Verify the authenticity of items before finalizing exchanges.
- Trust plays a critical role in business transactions.
- Report suspicious activities immediately to authorities.
- Stay informed about market scams and fraudulent practices.
Kolkata, Dec 3 (NationPress) A gold trader was deceived by an individual who exchanged jewellery worth Rs 33 lakh for counterfeit gold biscuits, according to police reports released on Wednesday.
Police investigations reveal that a contract was established between a jewellery merchant in Hooghly district and a workshop in Ghola, North 24 Parganas, to trade gold biscuits for gold jewellery.
An employee from the Ghola workshop returned after receiving the gold biscuits from the Hooghly dealer, but upon verifying their authenticity, the workshop owner discovered them to be forged.
The Hooghly jewellery dealer has since gone missing.
The workshop owner lodged an initial complaint at the Ghola police station, which was later forwarded to the Posta Police Station. Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the case.
According to police, the jewellery workshop owner resides in Nataghar, Ghola. A jewellery dealer from Hooghly had approached him, resulting in an agreement for the Ghola dealer to provide jewellery in exchange for gold biscuits instead of cash. The Hooghly dealer stated he would not visit Ghola but would meet at Sonapatti in Kolkata instead.
Subsequently, around 259 grams of gold jewellery was dispatched via an employee.
A senior police official commented, "The jewellery was exchanged in front of a sweet shop in Sonapatti. The individual received jewellery worth Rs 33 lakh in a package, and in return, he provided two gold biscuits. These were difficult to differentiate from genuine ones. However, after testing them at the workshop, it was confirmed they were entirely fake."
In response to the complaint, police conducted a raid in Rishra, Hooghly district, in search of the implicated gold dealer, recovering some jewellery from his residence. Nevertheless, the accused remains at large. Police have announced ongoing efforts to apprehend the gold dealer.