Caption: Once, a foreign trader visited Akbar’s court-

Akbar (casual): Shehzada Shams, what exciting news do you have for us?

Shehzada Shams (SS): Maharaj, I present to you a unique investment opportunity, the Golden Peacock Bonds.

Visual: SS is bowing to Akbar and presenting a rolled-up golden scroll.

Akbar (intrigued): What’s so special about it?

SS (casual): Each share of this bond shall give ten-fold returns. Many kingdoms are already using it as royal currency, especially in foreign trade.

Visual: Akbar has opened the scroll; he is looking at it. SS is explaining.

Akbar (amazed): Ten-fold! That is unique indeed!

Minister (curious): Maharaj, as your finance minister, allow me to look at it.

Visual: Akbar is amazed, Minister is standing next to SS, he is requesting Akbar for the scroll.

Minister (convinced): Hmm... it does seem genuine.

Akbar (agrees): Then I shall purchase 100 shares of it.

SS: I shall immediately arrange for the sale, Maharaj.

Visual: Minister is going through the contents of the scroll. Akbar is talking to SS and SS is acknowledging with a polite bow.

Caption: Suddenly-

Guard: Excuse me, sire. There’s an urgent message for you from Samarkand.

Visual: A guard is handing a small piece of parchment to SS. SS is looking surprised.

SS (casual): It’s from Sultan Raza… he is willingly to pay twice the amount for the Golden Peacock shares.

Akbar (annoyed): That rascal! Always competing with me for everything!

Visual: SS is reading the message from the note. Akbar is banging the armrest of his throne.

Courtier 1 (worried): If Raza gets the deal, Samarkand will become richer than our empire.

Courtier 2 (worried): Shehzada Shams, you mustn’t consider his offer.

Visual: Two other courtiers are talking to SS.

SS (humble look): Maharaj, I’m a humble trader. I seek profit, not loss.

Akbar (considering): Very well. We shall pay thrice the price.

Visual: SS is bowing in humility to Akbar.

SS (grateful): Thank you so much! I’ll return soon to close our deal.

Birbal (thinking - suspicious): The timing of that note feels quite odd.

Visual: Birbal is watching the scene from his seat.

Birbal (serious): Send our fastest rider to Samarkand immediately. I need to verify something.

Guard (casual): Yes, sire.

Visual: We see Birbal handing a sealed scroll to a guard. He is now outside of the courtroom, in a corridor.

Caption: A few days later-

SS (casual): As per our deal, here are 100 shares of the Golden Peacock, Maharaj.

Akbar (casual): And here is the agreed amount.

Visual: SS is handing a big, fat golden scroll to Akbar. Akbar is gesturing towards five huge bags of coins that is being held by his guard.

Birbal (distressed): Oh no, Maharaj! Sultan Raza has sent a new message. He has raised his price again.

SS (shocked): T-that’s impossible! Let me see it.

Visual: Birbal is reading from a small piece of parchment (like the note in 1.5). SS is extending one of his palms, asking Birbal to hand him the note. We do not see Akbar and the guard in this panel.

Akbar (casual): Sadly, I can’t offer any more. I suggest you take Raza’s deal.

SS (agitated): Sultan Raza hasn’t sent this note... someone is scamming me!

Visual: Akbar gesturing the guard holding the money to step back. SS is now holding the note in his hand. He is looking at it and reacting angrily.

Birbal (casual): The only scamster here is you! My messenger confirmed that Raza has never heard of you or the Golden Peacock. We know that you forged his royal seal and sent that note to yourself.

Minister (angry): You tricked us to raise the value of a worthless bond! Thankfully, Birbal slammed the scam!

Visual: Show SS panicking. Birbal is pointing at him in an accusing manner. Minister is glaring at him, hands crossed.

Footnote: Beware of scamsters like Shehzada Shams, who falsely promote a stock/investment share that they are holding, thereby creating a false demand for it. They then sell it after the stock price has risen following a surge in interest, thus reaping a fat profit from it. This illegal act is known as ‘Pump and Dump’ scam.

Akbar (angry): Guards, arrest him!

SS (pleading): Please, Maharaj, have mercy on me! I promise I won’t cheat anyone again.

Visual: SS is sobbing, begging to Akbar on his knees.

Akbar (smiling): As a unique, one-time offer, I’m sending you to Samarkand instead of prison.

Birbal (winking): We heard that Sultan Raza has a ‘special deal’ planned just for you.

SS (panicking): {Ulp}

Visual: Outside scene. SS is bound by ropes. He is sitting on a donkey. Akbar and Birbal are waving bye to him.

Activity

Birbal has hired the town crier to create awareness about scammers like Mehrzad Shams. In his hurry, the boy has jumbled the picture sequence that explains the “Golden Peacock Scam.”

Can you help arrange it in the correct order?

Step 1: Creating increased interest among investors

Step 2: Profit for scammer, loss for investors

Step 3: Price hike due to false demand

Step 4: Scammer chooses a an average investment scheme

Step 5: Spreading false information about the scheme value

Correct Order

4 → 1 → 5 → 3 → 2