Mangaluru | A 28-year-old mechanical engineering graduate from Mangaluru, Karnataka, has allegedly been cheated of ₹2.90 lakh in a fake job recruitment scam. According to police, fraudsters posing as recruitment agents for a multinational manufacturing company collected money from the victim under various pretexts while promising him employment.
According to the complaint, the victim received a phone call on May 27 from a person identifying himself as Praveen, who claimed to represent a job agency recruiting Mechanical Production Engineers for a manufacturing unit in Hoskote, Bengaluru.
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Believing the offer to be genuine, the victim transferred ₹2,000 as an interview fee to a bank account provided by the caller. On May 29, he received a video interview link via email. Following the interview, the fraudsters informed him on June 1 that he had been selected for the position.
The accused then allegedly demanded ₹20,000 as a processing fee, which the victim transferred. On June 6, they sought ₹27,600 as a gate pass charge, followed by another ₹40,000 on June 13 for a medical examination. According to the complaint, both amounts were transferred to different bank accounts as instructed.
Between June 15 and June 25, the fraudsters allegedly continued demanding additional payments under various pretexts, and the victim kept transferring money as directed. On June 26, when he contacted the caller for an update on his appointment, he was allegedly told that further payments were required.
The victim then requested cancellation of the recruitment process. According to the complaint, the following day the accused allegedly collected another ₹15,579 as a cancellation charge, assuring him that the entire amount would be refunded. However, neither was the promised job provided nor was any money returned.
After realising that he had been cheated, the victim first contacted the National Cyber Crime Helpline and subsequently lodged a formal complaint at Kankanady Town Police Station in Mangaluru.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Investigators are examining bank accounts, call records, email communications and other digital evidence to identify those involved and initiate appropriate legal action. The allegations remain subject to judicial scrutiny, and the guilt or innocence of the accused will be determined by the court after due legal proceedings.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
