Gorakhpur: A case of alleged job fraud involving ₹3.09 lakh has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur, where 12 job aspirants were allegedly cheated on the false promise of securing administrative positions at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The accused, identified as Vipin Kumar Mishra alias Neeraj Mishra, allegedly posed as an AIIMS Human Resources (HR) officer, collected documents and money from applicants, and later sent forged joining letters through WhatsApp. Based on a complaint filed by one of the victims, AIIMS Police Station has registered a case under charges including cheating and launched an investigation.
According to police, the complaint was lodged by Pratibha Sharma, a resident of Raiganj under Kotwali police station limits, who works as a supervisor at an organisation in Mohaddipur. She alleged that she met the accused while on duty in April 2026. During their interaction, Mishra allegedly introduced himself as an AIIMS HR officer and claimed he could secure her an Administrative Officer position at AIIMS with a monthly salary of ₹30,000.
The complaint states that on April 6, the accused collected her educational and identity documents outside the AIIMS main gate. Later, on April 14, he allegedly called her to a building inside the AIIMS campus and collected ₹30,000 in cash on the pretext of document verification and completing the recruitment process. He reportedly assured her that an appointment letter would be issued shortly after the formalities were completed.
Police said the investigation has revealed that the accused did not limit the scheme to a single applicant. Through Pratibha Sharma, he allegedly contacted several other job seekers looking for employment opportunities. Investigators claim that he collected money from multiple candidates through UPI transactions, ultimately obtaining ₹3.09 lakh from 12 aspirants while promising them appointments at AIIMS.
According to the complaint, the accused initially promised that candidates would join on May 1. When that did not happen, he postponed the joining date to May 22. After the second deadline also passed without any appointments, he allegedly sent forged joining letters to the applicants through WhatsApp and continued delaying the process with various excuses. The victims reportedly realised they had been defrauded only after no appointments materialised despite repeated assurances.
The complainant further alleged that when she demanded the return of the money paid by the candidates, the accused refused and allegedly threatened to kill her and her family. She subsequently approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. During the investigation, she also discovered two Facebook profiles allegedly operated by the accused under the names Vipin Mishra and Neeraj Mishra, which have now become part of the police investigation.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said employment fraudsters frequently exploit the names of reputed institutions, forged appointment letters, and fake HR officials to gain the trust of job seekers. He advised candidates to verify every recruitment notification exclusively through the official website or authorised communication channels of the concerned institution. He also cautioned applicants against transferring money to any private individual in the name of recruitment, document verification, or processing fees.
Police have launched efforts to trace the accused and are examining bank accounts, UPI transaction records, mobile phone data, social media profiles, and other electronic evidence as part of the investigation. Officials said further action will be taken based on digital and financial evidence, and any additional victims who come forward will also be included in the investigation.
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.
