A dream of going abroad once again turned into fraud. A jobless youth from the Bansdih area of Gorakhpur was allegedly duped of nearly ₹9 lakh on the promise of a job in South Korea. A ticket was issued, he boarded the flight — but on reaching Seoul Airport, officials flagged his documents as suspicious and sent him back.
Based on his complaint, a case has been registered and investigation has begun.
A meeting, trust — and then the deal
The case involves Nihal Chand, a resident of Kohda Buzurg under Gola police limits. Nihal said he had been looking for overseas work opportunities.
In November 2024, he met Vivek Pandey from Babhnauli village. During conversations, Vivek mentioned his associate Anoop Kumar Pandey and claimed they could arrange both the visa and the job, promising to send him to South Korea.
The total cost, he was told, would be around ₹9 lakh.
Land sold — payments made in installments
Trusting them, Nihal even sold his land and began paying in installments:
- 18 March 2025: ₹6,00,000 from his uncle Harikesh Chand’s SBI account
- 7 March 2025: ₹50,000 from his own Axis Bank account
- 8 March 2025: ₹1,50,000 transferred
- Plus ₹1,00,000 in cash
Later, he was handed the ticket. Nihal boarded the flight — but that’s when the real trouble began.
Sent back from Seoul
According to Nihal, officials at Seoul Airport checked his papers and — finding the documents doubtful — immediately deported him.
When he returned to India and demanded his money back, he alleges the two men abused and threatened him.
An FIR has now been registered against both accused, and further action is underway.
FCRF warning — “The lure of foreign jobs is turning into a dangerous trap”
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), fake visa and overseas job scams have surged in recent years.
Such rackets typically:
- Show forged offer letters and work permits
- Create pressure with “seat confirmed” and “urgent decision” tactics
- Take advance payments while leaving minimal traceable evidence
- Cut all contact once problems arise
Most victims sell land or take loans — pushing entire families into financial distress.
How to stay safe
- Avoid paying cash to private agents — insist on receipts
- Verify visas and work permits on official government portals
- Use only authorized and registered recruiting agents
- Read “non-refundable” clauses carefully
- If in doubt, immediately report to police or cybercrime.gov.in
The takeaway
This case is another reminder: without proper verification and legal procedure, the dream of working abroad can wipe out a lifetime of savings.
The investigation continues — but experts stress one thing clearly: verify agents, documents and every payment before taking any step.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
