A shocking overseas immigration fraud has come to light from Punjab’s Moga district, where a young man was allegedly cheated of nearly ₹47.87 lakh by a travel agent and his associates on the false promise of sending him to the United States. The victim was reportedly pushed through an illegal “donkey route” spanning multiple countries and eventually spent almost a year in foreign detention before being deported back to India.
The victim, identified as Amarjit Singh, a resident of Chak Tarewala village, was allegedly lured with assurances of a legal US work visa and a secure future abroad. According to a complaint filed by his father Mahinder Singh, the accused built trust gradually and then began extracting money in multiple installments under different pretexts.
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Fake Job Visa Promise and Layered Money Extraction
The main accused have been identified as travel agent Naginder Khullar, along with associates Kaku Singh and Mangal Singh. They allegedly convinced the family that Amarjit would be sent to the United States on a legitimate visa linked to film production work, creating an impression of authenticity and urgency.
Initially, the family paid around ₹4.5 lakh in cash, along with handing over the victim’s passport. Soon after, Amarjit was sent to Turkey on November 19 last year, marking the beginning of what investigators describe as a carefully planned illegal migration operation.
From Turkey, the victim was allegedly moved through the dangerous “donkey route”—an illegal and highly risky human trafficking corridor involving multiple countries, forest crossings, and unauthorized border movements. He was reportedly taken through Honduras and later moved toward the Mexico border under extremely unsafe conditions.
During the entire journey, the accused allegedly continued demanding money in stages. The family was first forced to pay ₹20 lakh, followed by another ₹22 lakh when the victim reached near the Mexico border. An additional ₹2 lakh was transferred online, allegedly under threats that Amarjit’s life would be at risk if payments were not made.
Detention, Deportation, and Police Case
According to the complaint, the victim was kept in camp-like detention conditions during parts of the journey. Eventually, he was intercepted by US authorities at the border and placed under custody. He reportedly spent nearly one year in a US detention facility before being deported back to India on December 18.
After his return, the family realized they had been cheated and approached local police. A case was subsequently registered against the three accused under charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and illegal immigration facilitation. All accused are currently absconding.
Police officials stated that preliminary investigation indicates the possibility of a wider transnational immigration racket operating across multiple countries. Authorities are now tracking financial transactions, digital communication records, and travel routes used in the scam to uncover the full network.
Investigators are also examining whether other victims were similarly trafficked using the same method, suggesting a repeatable fraud model involving staged international transit, false job promises, and escalating financial demands.
Public Outrage and Warnings on Illegal Immigration
The case has triggered widespread concern in the region, as the victim’s family lost their entire life savings in hopes of securing a better future abroad. Locals have demanded strict action against such travel agents who exploit the aspirations of young people.
Experts warn that illegal immigration networks often lure individuals with fake promises of work visas and legal entry, but instead push them into dangerous routes that expose them to detention, exploitation, and legal consequences in foreign countries.
Police have launched intensive search operations to arrest the accused, and further developments are expected as the investigation expands across state and international borders.
