How Did a Software Expert and His Aide Get Caught in a Fake Rural Ministry Job Scam?

Synopsis
In a recent bust, a software coding expert and his aide were arrested in Delhi for orchestrating a fraudulent job scheme. They duped aspiring job seekers by creating a fake website of the Ministry of Rural Development, leading to significant financial losses. The investigation uncovered extensive evidence of their elaborate scam.
Key Takeaways
- Fraudulent Websites: The suspects created fake websites impersonating government entities.
- Financial Fraud: Job seekers were charged registration fees for non-existent job opportunities.
- Extent of Deception: The scam potentially impacted numerous job aspirants across the country.
- Cyber Crime Awareness: The incident highlights the need for vigilance against online job scams.
- Government Action: Authorities are continuously working to crack down on such fraudulent activities.
New Delhi, May 19 (NationPress) A software coding expert and his aide have been apprehended for swindling job seekers out of significant sums of money by creating a fraudulent website mimicking the Ministry of Rural Development, a Delhi Police official reported on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla named the suspects as coding specialist Rashi Choudhary and Ikbal Hussain.
“Rashi hails from Telangana while Ikbal is originally from Assam,” he stated, adding that the duo was arrested in a rented apartment located in Shakarpur, Laxmi Nagar, in East Delhi.
This job scam came to light following complaints from the Ministry of Rural Development, which was receiving inquiries from job aspirants who had been deceived by the offenders.
“A recovery of at least 21 cheque books, 11 mobile phones, 15 SIM cards, and 15 debit cards has been made from the suspects, and efforts are ongoing to locate additional members of their gang,” DCP Mahla mentioned.
He indicated that the extent of the recoveries implies that the gang may have defrauded numerous job aspirants, collecting registration fees ranging from Rs 299 to Rs 399 via their website, which was purportedly running a scheme named National Rural Development and Recreation Mission (NRDRM).
“They were operating two counterfeit websites and defrauding job seekers by unlawfully using images of an MP and the official logo,” he added.
The DCP noted that the suspects were identified through the diligent efforts of cyber cell officers utilizing electronic tools to track them down.
The racket was uncovered following a complaint dated March 22 from the Ministry of Rural Development, reporting the dissemination of deceptive recruitment advertisements on fake websites www.nrdrm.com and www.nrdrmvacany.com, which featured images of Ministers and senior government officials to entice job seekers.
During the investigation, a QR code linked to these fraudulent websites was discovered. This code was used to collect registration fees from job seekers, with funds being deposited into a Central Bank of India account in Assam, he explained.
The funds were subsequently transferred to multiple accounts and withdrawn through ATMs, he said.