Mau: A major overseas employment fraud has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district, where nine people have been booked for allegedly cheating 42 job seekers of nearly ₹49 lakh by promising employment opportunities in countries including Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Azerbaijan and Singapore. The case was registered after a court directed the police to initiate legal proceedings. Investigators are now examining the financial transactions, recruitment process and the role of all individuals associated with the alleged racket.
According to the complaint, the alleged fraud began during the second week of March 2025, when representatives claiming to be associated with a private recruitment company organised a promotional campaign at Bapu Inter College in the Dargah area under Madhuban police station limits. The accused reportedly distributed pamphlets and visiting cards while claiming that their company operated from Patiala and Chandigarh and specialised in arranging overseas employment and work visas.
Police said the recruiters allegedly assured unemployed youths that they could secure jobs in several foreign countries with attractive salaries and legal work permits. They reportedly claimed that candidates would receive offer letters and visa approvals within a short period after completing the application process.
According to the FIR, each applicant was allegedly asked to pay an initial registration and documentation fee ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. The remaining amount was to be deposited later at the company’s office in Chandigarh after the issuance of the offer letter. Believing the promises made by the recruiters, dozens of applicants allegedly transferred money and submitted their personal documents for visa processing.
The complainant, Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Karanpur, alleged that despite collecting substantial amounts from applicants, the accused failed to fulfil their commitments. According to the complaint, many candidates never received the promised offer letters or work visas. It is further alleged that even those who were issued visas were not provided air tickets or any further assistance for travel abroad, leaving them stranded after making significant payments.
Following directions from the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mau police registered an FIR against nine individuals, including the company’s director, under relevant provisions of law. Investigators are now examining the authenticity of the recruitment agency, its business operations, financial records, and the identities of all persons allegedly involved in the scheme.
Police are also trying to determine whether similar recruitment drives were conducted in other districts and whether additional victims may have been targeted using the same modus operandi. Bank account details, payment records, application forms, promotional materials and digital evidence are being scrutinised as part of the investigation.
Cybercrime and financial fraud experts caution that fake overseas job scams often exploit unemployed youth by promising guaranteed foreign employment, fast-track visas and unusually high salaries. Applicants are advised to verify whether a recruitment agency is legally authorised, confirm the authenticity of job offers directly with overseas employers, and avoid making advance payments solely on the basis of advertisements, social media promotions or verbal assurances. Independent verification of licences, company credentials and official documentation remains one of the most effective safeguards against such fraud.
Police said further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the investigation, and additional arrests cannot be ruled out if more individuals are found to have participated in the alleged overseas recruitment scam.
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.
