Pratapgarh (Uttar Pradesh): A case of alleged ₹4 lakh visa fraud has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh, where a man was reportedly cheated after being promised employment and a work visa for Canada. Based on the victim’s complaint, the Kandhai Police Station in Pratapgarh has registered an FIR against a woman claiming to be a visa consultant from Rajasthan on charges of cheating and forgery. The investigation is currently underway.
According to police, Anwar Hussain, a resident of Biramau Vishundatta village in the Kandhai police jurisdiction, stated in his complaint that he wanted to travel to Canada for employment during 2024. During this period, he came into contact with Simmi Sindhu, a resident of Arjun Nagar, Jaipur, who allegedly introduced herself as a visa consultant and assured him that she would arrange a Canadian work visa and complete all immigration formalities.
The complainant alleged that the accused demanded money in instalments for visa processing. Acting on her instructions, he transferred a total of ₹4 lakh online through a Bank of Baroda customer service centre in Biramau to an IndusInd Bank account located in Mandi Dabwali, Sirsa district, Haryana.
According to the complaint, after receiving the money, the accused repeatedly sought extensions of ten days at a time, assuring the victim that the visa process was progressing. However, when neither the visa was issued nor the money refunded, she allegedly stopped answering his phone calls, leading the victim to suspect that he had been defrauded.
The victim subsequently filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Following a preliminary inquiry, Kandhai Police registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating and forgery and launched a formal investigation.
Police are examining the bank transactions, tracing the flow of funds, verifying the accused’s identity and investigating whether a wider network may have been involved. Investigators are also looking into whether other individuals were similarly deceived with promises of overseas employment and visa services.
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation, online fraud involving overseas jobs, visas and immigration services has been increasing steadily. Fraudsters often use social media platforms, messaging applications and fake websites to lure job seekers with attractive employment offers and expedited visa processing before demanding advance payments.
Cybercrime experts advise applicants to use only authorised and verified immigration agencies when seeking overseas employment or visa assistance. They also recommend independently verifying a consultant’s licence, office address, registration details and credentials before transferring any money. In cases of suspected online financial fraud, victims should immediately report the incident through the NCRP or the nearest police station to improve the chances of tracing and freezing the fraudulent transactions.
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.
