A 34-year-old male nurse working at a private hospital in Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹3.67 lakh by cyber fraudsters who promised to provide him a German language certificate without requiring him to appear for the mandatory examination. The victim, who hails from West Bengal, approached JB Nagar police after the accused repeatedly demanded more money instead of issuing the promised certificate.
Fake Certificate Offer on Facebook
According to the complaint, the victim had completed his B1-level German language course and was looking for opportunities to move to Germany for better career prospects. During this period, he came across an advertisement on Facebook claiming that a German language certificate could be arranged without taking the required exam.
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Tempted by the offer, he contacted the advertisers. The accused later reached out to him through WhatsApp and allegedly assured him that the process was genuine. They initially demanded a processing fee of 700 Euros to secure the certificate.
WhatsApp Calls and Instagram Groups Used
The victim said a group of four people, including a woman, contacted him through WhatsApp using Indian and German SIM cards. They repeatedly assured him that the certificate arrangement was legitimate and persuaded him to continue with the process.
The accused also allegedly added him to Instagram groups where several people appeared to post positive feedback about receiving similar certificates. After speaking to some of them, the victim believed the offer was genuine. Since he needed a B2 certificate to improve his chances of working in Germany, he trusted the accused.
Multiple Payments Before Suspicion
According to the victim, the fraudsters initially asked for a large amount but later agreed to accept smaller payments. Over time, they convinced him to transfer money in multiple transactions under different pretexts.
Instead of issuing the certificate, the accused allegedly continued demanding additional payments. The repeated demands raised suspicion, and the victim eventually realised that he had been cheated of ₹3.67 lakh.
JB Nagar police have registered a case and started an investigation into the online certification fraud. The case highlights the growing use of social media advertisements, messaging platforms and fake feedback groups to target job seekers and professionals seeking overseas opportunities.
