Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district have registered a criminal case against nine individuals accused of cheating 42 job seekers of nearly ₹49 lakh through alleged promises of overseas employment.

The case was registered after directions from the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, following a complaint alleging that the accused collected money from unemployed youths by offering jobs, work permits and visa assistance for several foreign countries.

Investigators are now examining the recruitment company’s credentials, bank transactions, promotional activities and the individual roles of those named in the complaint.

The allegations have not yet been judicially established, and the liability of the accused will be determined through investigation and trial.

Recruitment Campaign Allegedly Held at College

According to the complaint, the alleged scheme began during the second week of March 2025.

Representatives claiming to be associated with a private overseas recruitment company reportedly organised a promotional campaign at Bapu Inter College in the Dargah area under Madhuban police station limits.

During the campaign, the representatives allegedly distributed:

• Pamphlets
• Visiting cards
• Overseas job advertisements
• Contact details
• Information about work visa services

They reportedly claimed that their company operated from Patiala and Chandigarh and specialised in arranging international employment.

Jobs Promised in Multiple Countries

The recruiters allegedly told job seekers that they could arrange employment in:

• Germany
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Azerbaijan
• Singapore

Applicants were reportedly offered attractive salaries, legal work permits and an accelerated visa process.

According to the complaint, the recruiters represented that offer letters and visa approvals would be issued within a short period after completion of the required formalities.

Initial Registration Fees Collected

The FIR alleges that applicants were asked to pay an initial amount ranging from:

• ₹5,000 to ₹10,000

This amount was reportedly described as a registration, processing or documentation fee.

Applicants were allegedly informed that the remaining payment would be collected at the company’s Chandigarh office after issuance of the employment offer letter.

Believing the representations, several candidates allegedly transferred money and submitted personal documents for processing.

Applicants Submitted Sensitive Documents

Documents reportedly collected from the job seekers included:

• Passports
• Aadhaar cards
• PAN cards
• Educational certificates
• Photographs
• Bank details
• Employment application forms

Investigators are examining how these documents were stored, processed and used.

Authorities may also assess whether the applicants’ personal information was shared with third parties or used for purposes beyond the promised recruitment process.

Promised Jobs Allegedly Never Materialised

The complainant, Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Karanpur, alleged that the accused failed to provide the promised overseas employment despite receiving substantial payments.

According to the complaint, many applicants did not receive:

• Valid job offer letters
• Confirmed employment contracts
• Work permits
• Visa approvals
• Travel arrangements

Some applicants allegedly received visas but were not provided airline tickets or further assistance needed to travel and join the purported employers.

Investigators will need to verify the nature and authenticity of any visas or documents issued.

Questions Over Authenticity of Offer Letters and Visas

Police are examining whether the documents shown or issued to candidates were:

• Genuine
• Forged
• Altered
• Invalid
• Unconnected to any actual employer

Verification may require communication with:

• Foreign employers
• Embassies and consulates
• Visa application centres
• Immigration authorities
• Overseas labour departments

An authentic visa alone does not necessarily establish the existence of a valid employment contract or guarantee admission into a foreign country for work.

Court Directed Registration of FIR

Following the complaint, the matter was placed before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The court directed police to initiate legal proceedings, after which an FIR was registered against nine individuals, including the alleged director of the recruitment company.

The exact criminal provisions and individual allegations will be examined during the investigation.

Registration of an FIR does not establish guilt. It initiates a formal police investigation into the allegations raised by the complainants.

Recruitment Company’s Credentials Under Scrutiny

Police are investigating whether the company:

• Was legally registered
• Had a functioning office
• Possessed valid recruitment authorisation
• Maintained genuine overseas employer relationships
• Had permission to recruit Indian workers for foreign jobs
• Issued valid receipts and contracts
• Properly accounted for the money received

Investigators may also examine whether the company used agents or local representatives to conduct recruitment drives in educational institutions and rural areas.

Money Trail Being Analysed

The investigation is expected to include scrutiny of:

• Bank accounts
• UPI payments
• Cash receipts
• Fund transfers
• Payment acknowledgements
• Applicant-wise collections
• Withdrawals and onward transfers

Authorities will attempt to identify who received the payments and whether the funds were used for genuine recruitment services or diverted for unrelated purposes.

The total alleged loss of approximately ₹49 lakh will also need to be reconciled with available payment evidence.

Possibility of Additional Victims

Police are trying to determine whether similar overseas job campaigns were conducted in other parts of Uttar Pradesh or neighbouring states.

Investigators may examine:

• Social media advertisements
• Messaging groups
• Recruitment databases
• Mobile phone records
• Promotional events
• Lists of applicants
• Travel and accommodation records

If the same company or representatives approached candidates in other districts, the number of alleged victims and the financial value of the case could increase.

Why Overseas Job Scams Succeed

Foreign employment fraud frequently targets people seeking better income and long-term financial security.

Fraudsters may build credibility by using:

• Professional-looking brochures
• Office addresses in major cities
• Visiting cards and company websites
• False testimonials
• Copies of supposed offer letters
• Claims of embassy or employer connections
• Urgent payment deadlines

Victims may be pressured to pay quickly on the claim that only a limited number of positions are available.

Guaranteed Foreign Jobs Are a Warning Sign

Legitimate recruitment agencies cannot guarantee visa approval because the final decision generally rests with the relevant foreign government or immigration authority.

Applicants should be cautious when recruiters promise:

• Guaranteed visas
• Immediate work permits
• Jobs without interviews
• Unusually high salaries
• No qualification requirements
• Departure within a few days
• Cash-only processing

Candidates should insist on written contracts and independently verify every material claim.

How to Verify an Overseas Recruitment Agency

Before paying any fee, job seekers should verify:

• The legal name and registration of the agency
• Its permanent office address
• Authorisation to recruit workers for overseas employment
• The identity of the foreign employer
• The official job description and salary
• Visa and work permit categories
• Refund terms
• Written receipts for all payments

Verification should be conducted through official government and employer channels rather than solely through phone numbers or documents supplied by the recruiter.

Confirm the Job Directly With the Employer

Applicants should contact the overseas employer through independently verified contact information.

They should confirm:

• Whether the vacancy exists
• Whether the offer letter is genuine
• Whether the recruiter is authorised
• Who will bear travel and visa costs
• The place and conditions of employment
• The applicable employment contract
• Whether accommodation and insurance are included

Email addresses using free or unrelated domains should be treated with caution, particularly when the supposed employer is a large organisation.

Avoid Large Advance Payments

Candidates should avoid making substantial advance payments without clear documentation.

Payments should not be made:

• To personal bank accounts
• Through untraceable cash deposits
• To unrelated UPI IDs
• Without invoices or receipts
• Before verification of the employer
• Merely on the basis of a verbal promise

A legitimate recruitment process should provide transparent fee details and written terms.

Protect Personal Documents

Job seekers should also safeguard passports and identity documents.

Copies should preferably be marked with:

• The intended purpose
• The recipient’s name
• The date of submission

Applicants should avoid handing over original passports unless required for a legitimate and verifiable visa process.

Misused identity documents can expose victims to further fraud, unauthorised applications or financial misuse.

Investigation Continues

Police are examining:

• Bank transaction records
• Application forms
• Promotional material
• Company records
• Mobile phones
• Digital communications
• Visa-related documents
• The role of each person named in the FIR

Further legal action and arrests may follow if evidence establishes the involvement of additional persons.

The final determination of criminal liability will be made only after completion of the investigation and judicial proceedings.

Shunyatax Global Insight

Shunyatax Global says that overseas job seekers should treat recruitment as a financial and legal transaction, not merely a promise of employment. Every recruiter, employer, offer letter, visa category and payment destination should be independently verified before funds or personal documents are handed over. Recruitment agencies should maintain transparent fee structures, written contracts and auditable payment records, while applicants should never rely solely on promotional events, verbal assurances or impressive-looking documents.