by Norman Palihawadana

Several complaints against a trickster who had played out several millions of rupees from businessmen and other professionals are being received, Colombo Fort police said.

The modus operandi of this tickster is said to be the promise to exchange torn and soiled currency notes for good ones at double the value.

The latest victim had been a doctor who had been promised rupees two million torn and soiled currency notes in exchange for Rupees one million good notes.

The doctor had gone with Rupees one million good notes to a five star hotel where the trickster was staying to exchange it for Rupees two million torn and soiled notes.

The trickster had taken the Rupees one million currency notes from the doctor promising to bring the soiled currency notes and had vanished from the hotel through another door.

The doctor had immediately complained to Fort police.

The next victim had been a woman who owned a motor vehicle spare parts sales outlet who had been played out by the trickster in the similar manner.

Colombo Fort police is conducting further investigations.