Fake UK travel promise turns into currency scam at Chandigarh airport, FIR lodged

On the pretext of being sent to the UK, a youth was called to the Chandigarh airport, where he was cheated by given fake US dollars in exchange for genuine British pounds and a forged airline ticket, police said on Friday.

According to the police complaint, the victim, Balinder Singh, a resident of Balu village in Kaithal district, stated that he came in contact with the accused, Gaurav, through his maternal uncle’s son, Naresh Kumar. “On December 15, 2025, Gaurav called me at the Chandigarh airport and took £1,960 from me and handed over an envelope containing $7,000. Gaurav claimed that I would receive my UK visa upon reaching Delhi and even shared an IndiGo Airlines ticket on WhatsApp,” the complainant stated.

However, when Balinder attempted to enter the airport, security checks revealed that the ticket was fake. Upon further verification, the US dollars given to him were also found to be fake. The victim told the police that the bundle contained 140 notes of $50 each, bearing “The United State of Children.”

Police said that the accused, along with his associates, defrauded the victim as part of a conspiracy.

A case has been registered against Gaurav under relevant sections, and further investigation is underway, police added.