Bareilly police have uncovered an alleged impersonation and job fraud racket in which a woman who had failed to clear the civil services examination reportedly posed as a senior administrative officer and cheated unemployed youths by promising them government jobs. The case has led to the arrest of the accused woman, her sisters and another relative, with investigators freezing bank accounts containing about ₹55 lakh and recovering cash, electronic devices and documents linked to the alleged fraud.
False Identity Built Around Bureaucratic Power
According to the investigation, the accused had spent nearly eight years preparing for the civil services examination but did not succeed. She later allegedly began presenting herself as a government officer, first claiming to be a Sub-Divisional Magistrate and later projecting herself as an Additional District Magistrate.
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Investigators found that her appearance and conduct were used to strengthen the deception. She allegedly travelled in a luxury SUV carrying administrative markings and behaved in a manner that made her appear to be a serving officer. This created an impression of official authority and helped her gain the trust of people who approached her for employment-related help.
The accused allegedly used this false identity to convince job seekers that she had influence within government departments. Her projected status became central to the fraud, allowing her to approach vulnerable youths who were hoping to secure stable government employment.
Fake Job Offers and Forged Appointment Letters
Police said the racket primarily targeted unemployed youths by promising them jobs in government departments. Money was allegedly collected from victims under various pretexts, including job placement and related formalities.
To make the offers appear genuine, the accused allegedly issued forged appointment letters carrying the names and designations of senior officials. In one case, a victim reportedly paid ₹5.21 lakh for a supposed computer operator post.
Investigators also found that the accused transferred ₹17,000 into a victim’s bank account as “salary,” a move that helped reinforce the impression that the job offer was real. This tactic allegedly increased her credibility and persuaded victims to trust the claims further.
The fraud came to light after victims, facing delays in joining, began verifying the promises made to them. When they found that no such recruitment process existed, complaints were filed and police initiated a probe.
Sisters Accused of Running Coordinated Network
The investigation suggests that the accused did not operate alone. Her sisters and another relative were allegedly involved in the racket, with each member playing a role in identifying victims, building trust and managing financial transactions.
During the operation, police seized a luxury SUV with administrative insignia, more than ten cheque books, two laptops, several mobile phones and documents linked to the alleged fraud. Around ₹4.5 lakh in cash was also recovered. Bank accounts holding approximately ₹55 lakh have been frozen.
Authorities suspect that the number of victims may be higher than currently reported. Investigators are examining digital transactions, call records and banking trails to determine the full scale of the racket and identify more complainants.
A case has been registered under sections related to fraud and criminal conspiracy. Further questioning is underway, and officials believe additional details may emerge as the inquiry progresses. The case has also prompted a warning to citizens to verify government job offers only through official channels and avoid making payments without proper authentication.
