Visitor tries to con UAE citizen of Dh50,000

After misleading an Emirati by claiming investments in Dubai property, a Nigerian claimed he needed Dh900,000 to buy chemicals for cleaning blackened US dollar notes.
 
Emirati MR came into contact with the Nigerian via a website. The new friend introduced himself to the 28-year old Emirati as John Martin who holds British nationality and supplied him with a UK mobile number.
 
Later, John offered MR investment opportunities in Dubai’s property market. Then he asked his victim to meet a man called Philip in Dubai and gave him his mobile number to discuss business opportunities.
 
“I asked him to visit Dubai to discuss property investments. On September 2, the so-called John came to Dubai and I met him in Al Riqqa area and discussed investments with him.
 
“On the next day, John asked me to transfer $550 to a man in Turkey and gave me with his name and other details to process the transfer, which I did. Two hours later, he called me and asked me to stop the transfer and to pay the amount to Philip.

“Philp then called me and asked me to meet in a mall in Dubai. I went there, handed over the amount and left the place.

“On the next day, Philip called me and asked me to meet the general manager in a hotel in Deira. I went to meet him in the hotel. During the meeting, the general manager showed me black notes in a box and told me that these dollar bills need a special liquid to clean them and asked me for Dh900,000. When I told him that I did not have that amount, he reduced it to Dh700,000 and then to Dh50,000,” the victim told investigators.
 
The Emirati man, MR, pretended to agree on the amount and promised to bring it to them on the next day. He called the police and informed them about the gang.
 
Records did not mention how the gang was trapped.
 
However, police arrested only BS, 42, Nigerian visitor and confiscated from him 410 notes of $100 denomination in addition to a box with white paper and chemicals for ‘doubling’ money.
 
Criminal Investigation reported that the blackened notes were forged.
 
BS is accused of swindling $550 from the Emirati and conning him by claiming a bogus property project and profit rate of 40 per cent of the invested capital.
 
BS is also accused with a fugitive of conning the victim and attempting to steal Dh50,000 from him by claiming ability to clean blackened dollar notes and double money.
 
 The accused admitted to the charges before the court which will give its verdict on January 28, 2016.