Delhi police arrested a 52-year-old Iranian woman on Thursday. She allegedly cheated a 70-year-old Indian-origin US citizen out of $700. The fraud took place on Saturday at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
The Victim and the Scam
The victim, Baldev Singh, was waiting to catch a flight to the US. Meanwhile, the accused woman and her 55-year-old husband approached him near Departure Gate 7. They had a young child with them.
Fake Story and Request
First, the couple claimed they were flying to Dubai. Then, they asked Singh to show their child some Indian currency. Singh kindly handed them a ₹50 note.
Next, they asked if he had any US dollars. Singh pulled out nine $100 bills from his bag. The couple took the money, pretending to show it to their child.
Later, Singh realized something was wrong. He checked the returned bundle and found that only the top and bottom notes were genuine. In between, there were five ₹500 Indian notes. He had lost $700 in the scam.
Police Statement
Additional Commissioner of Police Usha Rangnani said, “The suspects then inquired if he carried US dollars. Singh displayed nine 100 US dollar notes from his bag. The couple briefly held the cash, pretending to show it to the child, before returning the bundle. Singh realized later that the notes were swapped with only the top and bottom notes being genuine, the middle containing five ₹500 notes, seven of his 100 US dollar notes had vanished.”
The Investigation
After Singh filed a complaint, police began investigating immediately. They traced the woman, Fatemah Akbari, to a guest house in Saket. Police conducted a raid and arrested Akbari. However, her husband, Mojtaba Zolfaghari, escaped during the operation.
Ongoing Search
The couple holds refugee status from the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). While Akbari is now in custody, police are still searching for her husband.