{
  "id": 2626216,
  "title": "Gang Duping Women With Fake Currency Bundles Active In Bhopal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/gang-duping-women-with-fake-currency-bundles-active-in-bhopal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T18:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/gang-duping-women-with-fake-currency-bundles-active-in-bhopal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: A criminal group is preying on women by offering them counterfeit stacks of money in exchange for their valuable jewelry in the city. The suspects approach female pedestrians under false pretenses, such as requesting directions, before gaining their trust. They then coax women into relinquishing their precious adornments, which are subsequently stolen, leaving bundles of paper in their place. At least a dozen such occurrences have surfaced within recent months. Police have reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings from various areas and collected hints about the perpetrators. Authorities believe the gang originates from a neighboring state, executes their crimes, and departs the city swiftly. One recent case involved a 35-year-old woman returning home from Bajaria on August 13. A man approached her, asked for directions to Mandideep, and later claimed he needed money for food and transportation. He presented her with a bundle of notes and attempted to exchange her gold bead necklace for the fake currency. The woman handed over the necklace, only to discover it was filled with paper when she arrived home. Another incident occurred when a 55-year-old woman from Jahangirabad was returning from New Market. Two men intercepted her near Lily Talkies, gifted her a bundle containing Rs 1 lakh, and threatened her about potential theft. They persuaded her to remove her jewelry and place it inside the bundle. The woman later found paper inside the package and realized her jewelry was missing. A similar episode transpired with a 60-year-old woman from Subhash Colony, Ashoka Garden. Two men handed her currency bundles and persuaded her to surrender her gold mangalsutra, earrings, and silver anklets. They transported her to Nadra Bus Stand in an autorickshaw and requested she wait. When they did not arrive on time, she opened the bundles and found paper instead of real money. Police officials disclosed that CCTV footage from various locations are being analyzed and the gang members will be apprehended soon.",
  "summary": "Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A gang targeting women by luring them with fake currency bundles has become active in the city. The suspects approach women on the pretext of asking for directions, gain their confidence and then persuade them to hand over their jewellery. They then flee with the ornaments, leaving behind bundles stuffed with pieces of paper. Nearly a dozen such incidents have reportedly…",
  "key_points": [
    "Gang offers counterfeit bundles to women in exchange for jewelry.",
    "At least 12 incidents reported in recent months.",
    "Police suspect out-of-state gang, believe they operate and flee quickly."
  ],
  "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."
}