Ujjain: A 44-year-old Nepali national working as a chef at a prominent hotel in Ujjain was allegedly duped of more than Rs 3.66 lakh in a cyber fraud involving ‘786’ serial-number currency notes, police said.
The victim, Mohan Shrestha, son of Leel Prasad Shrestha, came across a Facebook advertisement claiming that special banknotes bearing the number ‘786’ could fetch huge amounts of money. Tempted by the offer, he contacted the mobile number mentioned in the advertisement.
According to police, the fraudsters assured Shrestha that he would receive Rs 86 lakh in exchange for three such notes. They subsequently gained his trust and began demanding money under various pretexts, including delivery charges, GST, registration fees and TDS payments.
Between January 28 and February 10, 2026, Shrestha transferred Rs 3,66,546 in instalments to the number provided by the accused.
He realised he had been cheated only after discussing the matter with a friend, who informed him that it was a cyber scam. Shrestha later lodged a complaint with the 1930 cyber helpline.
Based on a report submitted by the State Cyber Cell, Nanakheda police registered an FIR under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
