A resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, has become the latest victim in a rising trend of immigration scams, losing ₹24 lakh to a fraudster who promised a spouse visa to Canada. The complainant, identified as Bhupinder Singh, reported that the accused, a local travel and visa agent, guaranteed visa procurement for Singh’s wife after charging a substantial fee.
Scammed With False Promise of Canadian Spouse Visa
Singh approached the accused last year, hoping to reunite with his wife who resides in Canada. The agent claimed he could expedite a spouse visa under a fast-track immigration route and demanded a total of ₹24 lakh for documentation, embassy coordination, and legal formalities. After receiving the amount, the agent began delaying updates and eventually stopped responding altogether.
Realizing he had been defrauded, Singh lodged a formal complaint with the local police in Ludhiana. Authorities registered a case under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
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Police Investigation Underway
According to Ludhiana police, this may not be an isolated incident. The accused is suspected to be part of a wider network of fraudulent immigration consultants targeting families eager to migrate abroad. Officials stated they are reviewing similar complaints and checking the financial records of the agent involved.
The police have initiated efforts to trace the agent’s bank transactions and have issued a lookout circular (LOC) to prevent him from fleeing the country. The case has also prompted authorities to reiterate warnings to the public against unregistered or unauthorized visa agents.
Immigration-related fraud continues to plague parts of Punjab, where dreams of settling abroad remain common. Officials have urged the public to verify agent credentials and consult only government-authorized immigration consultants
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.