A major job fraud racket has surfaced in the Chiluaatal area, where swindlers allegedly duped around 80 unemployed youths of nearly ₹76 lakh by promising overseas placements in Russia and Iraq. After collecting advance payments, the accused shut down their office and fled, leaving the victims—many of whom had taken loans—without jobs or refunds.
Sunil Kumar, a resident of Tarkulwa in Deoria, said he had approached a placement firm in Jagatbela three months ago after being offered work as a painter, polisher, carpenter and helper abroad with an attractive salary package. The firm claimed visa and ticket processing would begin after an advance payment. Trusting the assurance, he transferred ₹95,000 to a bank account provided by the operators.
When there was no progress even after the promised timeline, he visited the office only to find dozens of other youths from Deoria, Padrauna, Kushinagar and Maharajganj waiting with similar complaints. All had deposited money ranging from tens of thousands to over a lakh. Within days, the office was found locked and the operators had disappeared.
According to the victims, the accused used four different bank accounts under various names to collect funds in order to avoid suspicion. Phone numbers provided by the firm were later switched off, and attempts to recover the money failed.
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The youths initially filed a complaint at Chiluaatal police station on January 19, but alleged that no action was taken. They later approached the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), seeking intervention. The SSP has now assigned the investigation to the Circle Officer of Campierganj, and police have indicated that an FIR will be registered soon.
Investigators are examining bank transactions, mobile call records and other digital trails to identify the suspects. Steps are also being taken to freeze the accounts used in the fraud and trace the flow of funds. Raids at possible hideouts are likely once the identities of the accused are confirmed.
Among those who have filed complaints are Umesh Kumar Sharma, Jai Prakash, Brijesh Kumar, Amarjeet Yadav, Pawan Nishad, Anil Kumar, Praveen, Nagendra Ram and Avinash Chaurasia, among others. Most victims come from economically weaker backgrounds and had borrowed money in the hope of securing employment abroad.
Officials have urged job seekers to verify the licence, registration and Ministry of External Affairs authorisation of any overseas placement agency before making payments. They also advised against transferring money to personal or unverified bank accounts without proper documentation.
The police probe is ongoing, and victims hope that the accused will be arrested and their money recovered. The case highlights the growing menace of organised job scams targeting unemployed youth and underscores the need for stricter verification and awareness.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
