{
  "id": 10274276,
  "title": "₹55 Lakh Promise, ₹23.2 Lakh Loss: Retired Nagpur Official Falls For Fake Antique Currency Deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/55-lakh-promise-23-2-lakh-loss-retired-nagpur-official-falls-for-fake",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-27T18:18:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/55-lakh-promise-232-lakh-loss-retired-nagpur-official-falls-for-fake-antique-currency-deal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A retired 66-year-old Nagpur government official lost Rs 23.2 lakh to fraudsters who promised a high payout for antique currency. The scam began on August 30, 2026, when the victim clicked on a Facebook ad and was contacted by unknown numbers via WhatsApp. Scammers promised Rs 55.21 lakh for his collection of old notes and demanded an initial registration fee of Rs 550. Over the next two weeks, they produced forged documents like fake income tax clearances and government stamps to convince the victim to transfer Rs 23.26 lakh to several bank accounts. The victim only discovered the deception when they continued to be asked for more money without receiving anything in return. The police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act, targeting the WhatsApp group operators and the bank account beneficiaries.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: A 66-year-old retired government official was allegedly defrauded of Rs 23.2 lakh by cyber-criminals who lured him with a fake offer to buy old currency notes and coins from him for an exorbitant price. The cyber police has launched an intensive investigation following a formal complaint registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) by the victim, who hails from Nagpur.…",
  "key_points": [
    "Retired Nagpur official lost Rs 23.2 lakh to fraudsters.",
    "Scammers promised Rs 55.21 lakh for antique currency collection.",
    "Police registered case against WhatsApp group operators and beneficiaries."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}