A middle-aged man allegedly duped a Patna-based foreign currency exchange company representative of US$5,500 on Wednesday by giving him paper money used in a children’s game.

Sanjeev Kumar, an employee of Centrum, an Exhibition Road-based company dealing in foreign exchange, met one Ahraan Khan — a prospective client — at 11am on Wednesday at a café on the ground floor of a premier hotel in the city.

Sources said Khan had got in touch with Centrum through Dakbungalow roundabout-based Tours and Travels. He said he wanted to purchase US dollars.

A police officer at Gandhi Maidan police station said: “According to Sanjeev’s statement, Khan met him at the café. He was well-dressed and sophisticated. He told Sanjeev that he was putting up in room no. 405 at the hotel. Sanjeev gave him $5,500 (around Rs 4.5 lakh) in return for a briefcase of money, which he did not check at the time.”

The officer added: “Sanjeev asked Khan to furnish a photocopy of his passport, which is essential for foreign exchange transaction. Khan said it was in his hotel room and he would bring it. When he did not return, Sanjeev enquired at the hotel reception and found that room no. 405 was under renovation. He then checked the briefcase and found some of the currency notes that Khan gave him were of a children’s game.”

Sanjeev lodged an FIR at the Gandhi Maidan police station. The police said they are investigating the case.