Around 150 people from Gorakhpur, Deoria, and Maharajganj have allegedly been duped of nearly Rs 1 crore in a job fraud case in Lucknow, where the accused posed as operators of non-governmental organisations linked to a tuberculosis awareness campaign. The victims, many of them unemployed and seeking stable income opportunities, were lured with promises of formal employment, structured field assignments, and attractive salaries. What appeared to be a legitimate recruitment drive gradually unfolded into a coordinated fraud, leaving candidates without jobs, money, or recourse when the accused disappeared.
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Fake NGOs Used to Lure Job Seekers
According to the complaint, the accused set up fake NGOs and targeted job seekers by presenting themselves as being associated with government-backed health initiatives. They claimed their organisations, identified as “Bec Foundation” and “Jeevan Path Foundation,” had secured official work related to a tuberculosis awareness campaign. This representation gave the operation an air of credibility, encouraging applicants to trust the process. Victims were told they would be deployed in field teams to carry out awareness activities, which further reinforced the impression of a structured and legitimate programme.
Money Collected Under Pretext of Recruitment
The accused advertised multiple job openings offering monthly salaries ranging from Rs 31,500 to Rs 90,000. As part of the recruitment process, each applicant was asked to deposit between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1.10 lakh. Through these collections, approximately Rs 1 crore was gathered from around 150 candidates. Victims said that after collecting the money, the accused organised a training session at a hotel in the Mahanagar area. Participants were subsequently issued appointment letters and instructed to begin fieldwork, giving the impression that the recruitment process had been successfully completed.
Phones Switched Off, Office Found Locked
The fraud came to light when candidates reached their assigned districts to start work and were informed by health department officials that no such campaign or recruitment existed. Efforts to contact the accused failed, as their phones were switched off. Their office in Vikasnagar was also found locked, raising immediate suspicion. Following the incident, victims approached the Deputy Commissioner of Police, after which an FIR was registered at Vikasnagar police station. Police officials said an investigation is underway and further action will be taken based on the evidence collected.
