The Chennai Police on Monday arrested the key accused in a widespread overseas employment fraud operation that duped hundreds of job seekers by offering fake job placements in Gulf countries and beyond.
The suspect, identified as Mohammed Riyaz, was arrested by officials from the Central Crime Branch (CCB) after weeks of surveillance. Riyaz had allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated job racket that promised employment in the Middle East, Singapore, and Malaysia, targeting unemployed youth through social media, WhatsApp groups, and fake websites.
Modus Operandi: False Promises and Fake Visas
According to officials, Riyaz and his associates collected registration fees, visa processing charges, and travel costs from job seekers — often ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh per person — under the pretext of securing jobs with reputed construction and hospitality firms abroad.
Victims were lured with guarantees of high-paying jobs and were issued fake offer letters, visa documents, and travel itineraries. In some cases, individuals were even flown out but left stranded upon arrival when no employer turned up.
“The accused operated through a network of agents across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala,” said an investigating officer. “He had multiple SIM cards, bank accounts, and fake identities to evade detection.”
Over 300 complaints have been received from victims, many of whom took loans or sold assets to fund their migration plans. Police estimate the total fraud could exceed ₹7 crore.
Ongoing Probe and International Angles
The police have also recovered several passports, forged visa documents, laptops, and digital records from the suspect’s residence. They are now investigating international links to determine if the accused had accomplices abroad or access to immigration rackets.
Officials confirmed that Riyaz has been booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including cheating (Section 420), forgery (Sections 465, 468), and provisions of the Information Technology Act.
The arrest comes amid a rising trend of fraudulent recruitment scams exploiting the aspirations of India’s large youth workforce. Authorities have urged job seekers to verify agencies with the Ministry of External Affairs’ eMigrate portal before engaging with placement services.