Delhi: Has a fake job racket targeting airline job seekers been busted?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Investigate job offers thoroughly before making any financial commitments.
- Be cautious of job postings on social media and classified ad sites.
- Never pay money upfront for job placements.
- Report suspicious activities to the authorities immediately.
- Stay informed about the latest scams targeting job seekers.
New Delhi, Nov 8 (NationPress) In a significant operation against cyber scams, the Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s South District has dismantled a fraudulent job scheme that deceived numerous job seekers by presenting false employment offers from IndiGo Airlines, as reported by the Delhi Police on Saturday.
As per the police reports, nine individuals have been apprehended, including the ringleader, an employee of a telecom company, along with seven female telecallers.
The suspects masqueraded as recruiters on job platforms like OLX, enticing victims with promises of positions in renowned airlines. Once the victims were convinced, they were asked to pay “processing” and “uniform” fees, which totaled in the thousands of rupees.
Throughout the investigation, over 40 related complaints were identified on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
The mastermind, Vikash Kumar alias Vickey (38), hails from Subhash Nagar, West Delhi, and was captured following a raid led by Inspector Hansraj Swami under the oversight of ACP Arvind Kumar.
His accomplice, Baljeet Singh (31), who works at a telecom company in Vikaspuri, allegedly provided SIM cards acquired through the exploitation of customer biometrics. The seven female telecallers, hired via “Job Hai” and “Work India” platforms, were caught in a fake call center in Tilak Nagar, where they earned Rs 15,000 monthly for enticing job seekers.
According to the police, “The telecallers were recruited through online job platforms such as ‘Job Hai’ and ‘Work India’ and received Rs 15,000 monthly. They played an active role in contacting, persuading, and gathering personal information from job seekers. All seven women were apprehended on-site,” stated the police in a press release.
Law enforcement officials seized 22 mobile devices, one desktop computer, 19 SIM cards, QR codes linked to fraudulent bank accounts, and a Wi-Fi router utilized in the scam.
Additionally, eight UPI IDs and QR codes of bank accounts utilized to collect the swindled funds were also recovered.
The gang operated through a three-step scheme: victims initially paid Rs 2,500 as a security deposit, followed by Rs 5,000-Rs 8,000 for uniforms, and later another Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 to “establish a salary account.”
Many victims hesitated to report the scam due to the relatively small amounts involved, which allowed the fraudulent activities to persist for over a year.
The police urged citizens to remain vigilant regarding job offers on social media and OLX, and to refrain from paying any fees for employment. Suspicious incidents can be reported through the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930), their official website, or by visiting the nearest police station.