A young man from Haryana fell victim to a sophisticated currency and travel scam at Chandigarh International Airport, where he was duped out of genuine British pounds in exchange for counterfeit US dollars and a fake airline ticket, all under the false promise of securing a UK visa.
The Deceptive Promise of UK Travel
According to the police complaint, the victim, Balinder Singh, a resident of Balu village in Kaithal district, was introduced to the main accused, identified as Gaurav, through a relative, Naresh Kumar. The fraud was set in motion with the lure of facilitating travel to the United Kingdom.
"On December 15, 2025, Gaurav called me to the Chandigarh airport," Balinder stated in his complaint. The accused then took £1,960 (British pounds) from the victim. In return, Gaurav handed over an envelope purportedly containing $7,000 (US dollars) and assured Balinder that his UK visa would be issued upon reaching Delhi. To add credibility to the scheme, Gaurav even sent a confirmed IndiGo Airlines ticket via WhatsApp.
The Scam Unravels at Security Check
The elaborate deception quickly fell apart when Balinder Singh attempted to enter the airport terminal. During the mandatory security screening, officials examined the travel documents and immediately identified the airline ticket as forged. This discovery triggered further scrutiny of the currency he was carrying.
Upon verification, the US dollars were also declared counterfeit. The victim informed the police that the bundle contained 140 notes, each of $50 denomination. The fake currency bore a glaring error, inscribed with the phrase "The United State of Children" instead of "The United States of America," highlighting the poor quality of the forgery.
Police Action and Investigation
Chandigarh Police confirmed that the accused, Gaurav, along with his associates, executed the fraud as part of a premeditated conspiracy to cheat the victim. Acting on Balinder Singh's formal complaint, the police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Gaurav under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating and forgery.
Authorities have stated that the investigation is actively underway to apprehend the accused and uncover the full extent of the fraudulent network involved in this airport scam. This incident serves as a stark warning for individuals seeking overseas travel assistance through unofficial channels.
The case underscores the risks of dealing with unverified agents and the importance of conducting financial transactions through legitimate and authorized channels only. Police advise the public to exercise extreme caution when approached with offers that seem too good to be true, especially those involving visa facilitation and currency exchange.
