Over 2,000 people in Balti were conned by 3 men from Chisinau, who charged a 50 lei fee for checking their water meters. The trio issued over 4,000 fake meter check certificates, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a press release from the Ministry of the Interior, the suspects operated their illegal scheme from an office rented in Botanica sector of Chisinau. A police search revealed that their license allowed them to perform only technical-sanitary and welding works, whereas they received water meters from people to check them. Usually, the owners would get their meters back in one day and they also received fake certificates of metrological control, allegedly issued by the Standardization and Metrology Center (CSM) in Balti. The investigation found out that CSM Balti had no relation to the fake inspectors from the capital, and the water meters returned to the people after the so-called check didn’t have their data changed. Usually, meters show an extra 120 liters after inspection, according to the standard legal procedure of inspection. The law enforcement agents found in the office registries water meters and papers that confirm the actions. According to preliminary data, the group cheated over 2000 people and issued over 4000 certificates of metrological control, charging 50 lei for each. The police are gathering evidence in order to lay the charges against the owner of the entrepreneur license and the other members of the group.