Imagine being told that a common vessel made of copper or infused with a rare metal can magnetically attract grains of uncooked rice. What’s more? It is worth crores and highly sought after by NASA, ISRO, and other scientific research labs worldwide. You can either buy this magical vessel or invest a significant amount to cover “testing” and/or "clearance” costs before the big payout day.
It is not a legitimate scheme but one of the most persistent scams in India, known as the “rice-pulling scam,” where victims are reeled into the scammers’ trap using promises of quick profits and pseudoscience. Despite police action, official advisories, and news reports highlighting numerous such cases, the racket resurfaces regularly as many fall for the promise of huge returns.
We help you analyse the scam because the best way to fight back and protect your finances is through awareness, critical thinking, and verification.
Modus Operandi
The Build-Up: Scammers market an old or antique metal object or equipment that allegedly contains iridium, a rare metal used in satellites, scientific research labs, and the aviation industry. They assert that the object can move grains of rice because of its supposed electromagnetic force.
In-demand: They inform victims that the object is costly, with increasing demand across various industries in India and internationally.
Fake Demo: To further convince victims, scammers might stage a “test” using static electricity or magnets in a controlled environment.
Win Big: Victims are presented with two propositions. First, they either purchase the object and sell it at an inflated price or help cover costs for testing, certification, document processing, or customs duties. They may produce fake documents, certificates, and communications from interested buyers to make it seem official. The latter method yields large profits. For example, in a reported case, a victim was promised a return of Rs 50 crore on his Rs 1 crore investment.
Vanishing Act: Once the victim transfers the decided amount, the scammers claim delays in the sale of the object, failed testing or the buyer(s) backing out of the deal. They eventually disappear and block all contacts.
Red Flags
Claims of impossible scientific or supernatural properties, such as a rare metal attracting rice.
Promises of a large profit on your investment within a short period of time.
Guaranteed buyers and claiming organisations like ISRO, NASA, or DRDO are involved in such private deals.
Demanding advance payments for testing, registration, certification, or any other fees.
Creating urgency for the victim to buy or invest money to secure the deal or else miss the opportunity.
What To Do
Question Claims: To date, no scientific research supports rice-pulling claims. No metal can attract or repel grains of rice. If someone contacts you with a proposal, block or ignore them.
Verify: If you’re presented with the official letters or certificates from any agency, double-check the authenticity of these documents through official channels. You can also perform a quick online research since such scams are widely reported in the news or may have research papers highlighting such frauds.
Decline: Refuse to pay any amount to scammers, and if you have made any transactions, immediately notify your bank to help reverse the transaction and protect your account.
Report: Report the incident as soon as possible through a government portal, such as Chakshu (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/), or the national cybercrime helpline at 1930. You can also lodge a complaint with the local police station.
Share: Inform your circles and communities about the scam and ask them to be cautious of any such alerts.
The Quint's Scamguard initiative aims to keep up with emerging digital scams to help you stay informed and vigilant. If you've been scammed or successfully thwarted one, then tell us your story. Contact us via WhatsApp at +919540511818 or email us at myreport@thequint.com. You can also fill out the Google form and help us take your story forward.
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