The Anti-Extortion Cell of Thane crime branch has arrested five people including a woman and busted a gang that was into cheating people on the pretext of giving dollars at a cheaper rate. The Thane Crime Branch sleuths arrested them from Rabodi in Thane and seized a mobile phone and cash worth Rs 1.86 lakh from the accused. 

“The accused would deceive people by offering to exchange or sell foreign dollars at a reduced rate. In return, they would take Rs 2 to 3 lakh and hand over a small amount of dollars along with paper, instead of the promised currency, cheating the victims. The team operated with careful planning, by getting familiar with shopkeepers or locals thus gaining trust, and ultimately defrauding people with promises of lucrative gains,” said an officer.