Easy meat: How city businessman fell prey to scam, lost 1 crore to ‘exporter’

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police crime branch has launched an investigation after a businessman alleged he was cheated of Rs 1.3 crore by a man posing as a meat exporter. The suspect promised lucrative returns from the export venture and persuaded the complainant to invest in the scheme, assuring him that the business was already profitable.

However, when the businessman tried to withdraw his earnings, the suspect cut off all communication and became unreachable.The complainant is a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), currently residing in east Delhi.The complainant stated that he came into contact with a man in June last year through a mutual friend. The individual introduced himself as a large-scale meat exporter and presented fake documents showing alleged business profits to gain his trust.

Unaware that the documents were forged, the complainant believed the man's claims and agreed to support his business venture.A few weeks later, the man persuaded the complainant to invest money, falsely promising high returns by Jan 2025. Trusting these assurances, the complainant invested a substantial amount, including his father's lifelong savings. As he was NRI, the money was sent in multiple instalments from his father's account via cheques.

These payments were made to the account of an individual who the suspect falsely introduced as his business manager.The complainant initially transferred Rs 67.7 lakh through these transactions. Later, in Oct–Nov 2024, the suspect claimed he needed an additional $80,000 (approximately Rs 69.3 lakh) to resolve a supposed issue with a shipment in Dubai. With the assistance of a friend and business associate in Dubai, the amount was arranged and handed over to one of the suspect's contacts in the UAE.According to the complainant, a WhatsApp conversation dated Jan 10, 2025, shows the suspect acknowledging a debt. However, when the complainant began following up regarding repayment, the suspect began avoiding communication.Eventually, the suspect vanished — switching off his phone, changing numbers, and vacating the complainant's residence. When the complainant contacted the person earlier described as the suspect's manager, he learned that the individual was, in fact, an independent meat trader. That person disclosed that the suspect instructed him to transfer all received funds to his personal account, and the money was never used for any legitimate business purpose.Following the complaint and preliminary inquiry, police found prima facie evidence of cheating. A formal case was registered, and further investigation is underway.