Bijnor | A major employment fraud case has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, where a man was allegedly cheated of nearly ₹17 lakh after being promised a cashier’s job in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Police have arrested the accused, who allegedly used social media platforms to build trust with the victim before trapping him in a carefully planned financial scam involving fake recruitment documents and multiple monetary transactions.
According to investigators, the accused and the victim became acquainted through Facebook and Instagram. What initially appeared to be a normal online friendship gradually evolved into a financial fraud operation, highlighting the increasing misuse of social media networks in employment-related cyber and economic crimes.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
The complainant, identified as Anil Kumar, a resident of Khedki Tappa village under the Haldour police station area in Bijnor, alleged that the accused convinced him that he had strong influence and connections capable of securing a government banking job in the RBI. The accused reportedly introduced himself as a well-connected individual who could arrange direct recruitment for the post of cashier in exchange for money.
Police said the accused has been identified as Pushpendra Agnihotri, a resident of Sumerpur police station area in Hamirpur district. Investigators believe the suspect gradually gained the victim’s confidence over several conversations conducted through social media and mobile communication platforms. After establishing trust, he allegedly began demanding money under different pretexts related to recruitment formalities, processing charges, documentation, and appointment procedures.
According to the complaint, the victim transferred money through online transactions and also handed over cash payments at different stages. In total, around ₹17 lakh was allegedly collected by the accused over a period of time. To maintain credibility and prevent suspicion, the accused reportedly shared documents claiming to be related to the RBI recruitment process. However, later verification revealed that the documents were fake and had no connection with any official recruitment authority.
The fraud allegedly continued for months as the victim kept waiting for the promised appointment. When no joining letter or official communication arrived despite repeated assurances, suspicion began to grow. The victim later realized he had been deceived and approached the police with a formal complaint seeking legal action against the accused.
Following the complaint, police formed a team to investigate the matter. During the probe, officials reportedly examined transaction details, digital communication records, and the fake documents allegedly used in the fraud. After gathering evidence supporting the allegations, police arrested the accused from his residence and produced him before the court.
Investigators are now examining whether the accused targeted other individuals using similar methods. Police suspect that the fraud may not be an isolated incident and are verifying possible links to broader employment scam networks operating through social media platforms. Authorities are also analyzing bank transactions and digital footprints connected to the case.
Cyber and financial crime experts say fake government job scams have increased significantly in recent years, especially through social media platforms and messaging applications. Fraudsters often exploit unemployment and the desire for stable government jobs by pretending to have political influence, institutional contacts, or insider access to recruitment agencies.
According to a cyber expert associated with Future Crime Research Foundation, “Job seekers should never trust recruitment claims made through social media without official verification. Government institutions, including banks and regulatory bodies, conduct recruitment only through authorized channels and official notifications. Fraudsters increasingly use forged documents, fake interview letters, and digital communication tools to create an appearance of legitimacy.”
Experts advise candidates to verify every recruitment process through official government websites, avoid transferring money for job offers, and immediately report suspicious employment proposals to cybercrime authorities.
