Noida Phase 1 police have uncovered a large employment fraud network that allegedly deceived more than two hundred job seekers by promising them high paying roles in well known companies. The gang was operating a fake call centre in Sector 16, pretending to be placement consultants and collecting registration fees from unemployed youth searching for work.
Police have arrested three main accused. They have been identified as Vishal Raghav, Aamir Usmani and Varun Kumar. They were living in Aligarh, Ghaziabad and Delhi. The accused had set up the fake operation inside a commercial office that had laptops, phones and false paperwork.
Police raid exposes fraudulent recruitment setup
Deputy Commissioner of Police Yamuna Prasad said the arrests were made after credible information was received about suspicious activity inside an office in Sector 16. A police team raided the location and found the scam underway.
From the spot, officers seized seven mobile phones used to contact candidates, four debit cards linked to several fraudulent accounts, three active SIM cards obtained with fake identity documents, a passbook and cheque book used to move the collected money, fake joining letters from well known companies and large sheets of candidate data along with digital devices.
Officials said the bank accounts and SIM cards were essential to the group’s payment cycles and had been created using forged documents to avoid tracking.
How the fraud gang targeted job seekers
Investigations show the accused contacted job seekers who had recently registered on common employment portals. They offered roles that did not exist.
Victims were told that their resume had been shortlisted by a top multinational company, that they needed to pay between one thousand and fifty thousand rupees as registration, verification or onboarding fees and that a formal offer letter would be issued once the payment was made. To appear genuine, the gang sent forged offer and appointment letters through WhatsApp or email. After receiving the money, they slowly ended communication.
Police said that Vishal Raghav withdrew the money and kept a commission of ten to twenty percent before handing the rest to the masterminds.
Links to earlier arrests
Four days earlier, police had busted another fake call centre in Sector 4 and arrested two people, Somesh and Anuj, who had operated a similar setup in Hyderabad in 2017. Investigators believe both cases are linked.
Their method involved hiring women tele callers for only one month and replacing them quickly, targeting job seekers from outside NCR, mostly from southern and remote regions, and using temporary SIM cards and short term rented offices to shift locations frequently. Police suspect there are more financiers and accomplices who have not yet been arrested.
Police issue caution for job seekers
Police urged the public to stay alert as cyber enabled recruitment frauds are rising across NCR. They advised people to avoid paying for job offers, verify offer letters directly with the company, avoid sharing personal documents or OTPs with unknown callers and check recruiter information on official career websites. A senior officer said unemployment pressures make youth vulnerable to organised crime groups that exploit trust and urgency.
Further investigation continues
Digital forensics teams are examining seized devices, bank records, call logs and the stolen candidate database. Authorities believe the total amount defrauded may be in several lakhs and more victims may report their losses.
“This is a well structured cybercrime module specifically preying on unemployed youth. We expect more arrests as the investigation progresses,” said a senior Noida police officer.
The three accused are being interrogated to identify the masterminds, financial handlers and data suppliers involved in the operation.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.
