Three arrested for paying deliverymen fake notes

The three members, all unemployed, made a habit of targeting a different restaurant each night by ordering food.

Supplied photo

Abu Dhabi — The Al Ain Police have arrested a three-member gang who used counterfeit Dh1,000 notes to pay for food they ordered from restaurants in the city to get real currency back as change from deliverymen. The police referred the three suspects (a woman and two men) to the authorities concerned for legal action.

According to Brigadier Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, Director of the Al Ain Police Directorate, they received calls from victims claiming they had been swindled. “We formed an investigation team and managed to arrest a 43-year-old Arab woman identified as M.B. During interrogation, she confessed to making fake Dh1,000 notes using a PC, a scanner and a colour inkjet printer at her residence, with the help of two accomplices of the same nationality. She also confessed to using the counterfeit money to pay for food deliveries to get real currency back as change,” Brig Al Amimi said.

“The three members, all unemployed, made a habit of targeting a different restaurant each night by ordering food. When the deliveryman arrives, the woman would pick up the order in a dark spot within a residential area to conceal her identity and prevent the latter from checking the note, and take back real currency notes.”

The police seized the equipment used in the forgery. They also seized a number of cell phones registered in fake names and used by gang members. Brig Al Amimi called on individuals and employees at markets, stores and restaurants to properly check the authenticity of the notes and not hesitate to call Aman service (8002626), send SMS to 2828 or even directly inform a police station, if they come across counterfeit money.

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