New Delhi | January 2026: Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit has busted a large-scale job scam in which a fake recruitment drive was run in the name of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Two accused — Kuldeep (30) and Piyush (25) — have been arrested for allegedly creating a fraudulent website that closely mimicked an official government portal and duped at least 150 job aspirants.
Investigators said the accused launched a counterfeit recruitment portal, issued fake notifications, collected online applications, shortlisted candidates, and even conducted a written examination in Jaipur all as part of a carefully planned scheme to extort money just before declaring “final results”.
A website that looked completely official
According to police, the fake portal was designed to appear indistinguishable from a genuine government website. It featured:
- ASI-style logos
- References to the Ministry of Culture
- Authentic-looking recruitment notifications
- Official-format links and layouts
The portal advertised seven posts of Curator and 84 posts of Junior Assistant. Links were circulated widely across college groups, student networks, WhatsApp and social media platforms, prompting hundreds of candidates to apply.
150 shortlisted, Jaipur exam conducted
From the applicant pool, the accused shortlisted around 150 candidates, allegedly focusing on those who appeared financially capable. To reinforce credibility, the gang went several steps further:
- A mock examination centre was arranged in Jaipur
- Question papers were prepared
- Roll numbers and admit slips were issued
Importantly, no money was taken at this stage, a tactic police say was deliberately used to avoid suspicion. Candidates were told that results would be declared shortly.
Extortion planned before results police step in
The plan, investigators say, was to demand money just before announcing the “final selection”, under pretexts such as:
- Processing charges
- Final allotment fees
- Document verification costs
Before the calls could be made, however, IFSO received specific intelligence inputs and moved in.
IFSO action: arrests before money could be collected
According to police officials, inputs suggested that a group was preparing to collect money from candidates in the name of ASI recruitment. The IFSO team, under senior supervision, first contacted ASI to verify the recruitment. The response was unequivocal: no recruitment drive was underway.
A technical analysis confirmed that the website was fake. Digital surveillance led investigators to Kuldeep and Piyush, who were subsequently arrested. Police believe Kuldeep was the mastermind, while Piyush handled the website design and technical operations. Items seized include:
- Mobile phones
- Laptops and desktop systems
- Tablets
- Multiple bank passbooks
Police are now compiling a detailed list of victims and analysing financial trails.
Experts warn recruitment scams are accelerating
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), cases involving:
- Fake government recruitment websites
- Fraudulent job notifications
- Sham written exams and call letters have increased sharply in recent years.
Experts say fraudsters first build trust by replicating genuine recruitment processes and only demand money at the final stage, using terms like “confirmed seat” or “processing fee” to pressure candidates into paying large sums.
Police advisory: verify before you trust
Delhi Police and FCRF have issued a joint caution to job seekers:
- Check recruitment notices only on official government portals
- Never pay money to unknown agents or callers for jobs
- Report suspicious links or offers immediately to cybercrime units
Police suspect more individuals may be involved in the racket and say further arrests are possible. Victims have been urged to come forward to assist the investigation.
