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A surge in job fraud cases has put police on high alert in Kerala’s capital, with more than 30 victims losing lakhs of rupees to fraudulent job promises in government departments, private companies, and overseas firms. Officials confirmed that in just the past 24 hours, five new cases were registered across four police stations, highlighting the growing scale of the scam.
Rising Cases of Employment Scams
According to police, the victims were lured with fake offers of positions in prestigious institutions such as the Pollution Control Board, Indian Railways, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO, and even jobs abroad. Fraudsters exploited job seekers’ desperation by demanding hefty sums as “processing fees” or “security deposits,” only to disappear after collecting money.
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Perookada, Museum, Kazhakkoottam, and Cantonment police have filed cases against two agencies and multiple individuals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 318(2) for cheating and 319(4) for criminal breach of trust. In one case, Perookada police exposed an agency that defrauded two men of ₹3 lakh each by promising jobs in a Hungarian toy factory. Similarly, a Madavoor-based man was arrested for duping a Uchakada resident of ₹3.9 lakh with a fake Hungary job offer.
Kazhakkoottam police also booked a group that cheated a 35-year-old woman out of ₹6 lakh by offering a Pollution Control Board job.
Widespread Impact and Key Accused
The fraud has spread across various localities. A 29-year-old man from South Nada lost ₹3 lakh to a fake job offer in South Korea, while 11 residents of Poonthura were cheated by two men promising Secretariat contract jobs, collecting money for posts like clerks, sweepers, and drivers. Another scam involved a forged job notification in the Forest Department circulated on WhatsApp using fake letterheads.
Police revealed that a major suspect, Ramzi, 35, from Pothencode, is linked to at least 10 cases of cheating by promising jobs in VSSC and ISRO. Complaints have been filed at police stations in Venjaramoodu, Perookada, Kazhakkoottam, Attingal, Marayamuttam, Vattapara, Aryanad, and Sreekaryam.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing but cautioned that victims had paid the fraudsters “by trusting blindly without verifying.” Officials urged the public to remain vigilant and confirm job notifications directly with relevant institutions.
