BHADRAPUR: A group accused of defrauding people by showing antique copper or religious coins and offering them for sale at unusually high prices has become active in Jhapa.
District Police Office, Jhapa, has taken three individuals into custody this week on charges of involvement in the fraud.
Those arrested include two Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. Police identified them as 31-year-old Nazbul Ansari of Kishanganj, India; 24-year-old Sarfaraz Miyan of Goldhap, Haldibari Rural Municipality-1 in Jhapa; and 35-year-old Sabir Miyan of Itahari-8, Sunsari.
Sabir Miyan was taken into custody from the Rupanchawari area of Barhadashi Rural Municipality-7 along with four coins bearing images of Hindu deities, and police said an investigation is underway.
According to Ranjan Awa, information officer and deputy superintendent of police at the District Police Office, Jhapa, the suspects allegedly lured members of the public by claiming that the old and religious coins could be sold abroad or in the market for millions of rupees.
Preliminary investigation shows that they first displayed the coins to gain trust and then collected money on the pretext of coin testing, authentication, or processing for purchase.
DSP Awa said that many victims do not file complaints due to fear of legal complications or embarrassment, which further encourages such groups.
Police have urged the public not to fall for claims that any item can be sold overnight for huge sums of money or that unusually high profits can be earned through such transactions.
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