International Copper Scam Unraveled: Pune Traders Lose Crores
In a sophisticated international fraud case that spanned multiple countries, the Pune City Police have arrested a 51-year-old man from Kolkata for allegedly cheating two Pune-based copper traders of a staggering ₹4.7 crore. The elaborate scam promised cheap copper scrap from Tanzania but turned out to be an intricate web of deception.
The Modus Operandi: Gaining Trust Through International Tours
The case came to light when a Raviwar Peth-based trader dealing in copper utensils and artefacts filed a complaint at Khadak police station. According to police records, in late 2023, the trader was introduced to a man identifying himself as Bhupendra Singh, who claimed to be a scrap trader with an office in Malad, Mumbai.
Singh allegedly presented himself as an established international businessman, claiming his company operated an office in Dubai and maintained scrap processing units in Tanzania. "The suspect promised to deliver copper scrap at a much cheaper rate than the prices quoted by others," revealed Inspector Shashikant Chavan of Khadak police station.
To establish credibility and win the trader's trust, Singh and his son took an extraordinary step - they organized and accompanied the complainant on international tours to both Dubai and Tanzania sometime in 2024. This strategic move proved crucial in convincing the trader of their legitimate business operations.
The Financial Trap and Disappearance
The suspects assured the trader that consignments of scrap copper would be delivered through Mundra port in Gujarat. For a specific quantity of copper scrap, Singh demanded a payment of ₹3.8 crores to be transferred to a bank account in Dubai.
The complainant, convinced by the international exposure and apparent legitimacy of the operation, made the substantial payment. However, the promised material never arrived, and the suspects abruptly cut off all communication, going completely incommunicado.
As the investigation progressed, police uncovered that this was not an isolated incident. Another trader from Parvati Darshan had fallen victim to the same suspects, losing ₹90 lakh in a similar manner, bringing the total fraud amount to ₹4.7 crore.
The Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
"During the probe we got information that Bhupendra Singh was coming to Kolkata. A team was sent to Kolkata and he was arrested on November 20," stated Inspector Chavan. After obtaining transit remand from a competent court in Kolkata, the suspect was brought to Pune.
The local court has remanded Singh to police custody until November 29 as investigations continue. Police have launched a search for Singh's son, who is believed to be involved in the elaborate scam.
The police have made a public appeal, urging other traders who might have been cheated by the same suspects to come forward. The investigation continues to uncover the full extent of this international fraud operation that exploited the trust of established business professionals through carefully orchestrated deception.
