Rice puller are metal /alloy artifacts purported to attract rice grains. Ricepuller’s alleged magical property of attracting grains makes these things incredibly valuable. It is this property that makes rice pullers a way for conmen on the Indian subcontinent to scam people.
What are they made of?
Rice pullers can be any metal object such as cutlery, bowls or jewellery or any such ancient artifacts which are made of copper/alloy and other metal/alloy. Claims are made that a unique mixture of copper and iridium accounts for the metal’s magical powers.
The most prized of all rice pullers is a cheap, crudely faked Anna coin dated 1616, allegedly minted by the East India Company (they minted no such coin in 1616).
What scammers claim?
- Scammers will demonstrate the “power” of these objects through unimpressive illusionist techniques.
- Some claim that the metal acquires these properties when lightning strikes it or that it falls on earth when lightning strikes, adding to its mystique.
- Some others claim its utility in fields like nuclear energy or aeronautics and create a ready market through open auction and sell them to targets at bargain price.