New Delhi — In a revealing example of the growing sophistication of international employment scams, a civil engineer in Delhi was allegedly defrauded of ₹2.41 lakh under the pretext of securing a high-paying job in Luxembourg. The accused reportedly lured the family with promises of a lucrative overseas position, providing fake visas, forged job offer letters, and falsified embassy documents to gain their trust. The Aman Vihar Police have registered a case and launched a full investigation.
Promise of Overseas Employment Turns Costly
According to the complaint filed by Manzar Alam, his son Umar Farooq, a civil engineer, had been actively seeking overseas employment. During this search, Alam came across a WhatsApp group advertisement offering international job placements. Contacting the number provided, they were approached by a man identifying himself as Rasooluddin Malik, who claimed he could secure a civil engineering job for Umar in Luxembourg for a total fee of ₹3 lakh, covering visa and airfare expenses. Persuaded by Malik’s professional demeanor and seemingly authentic documents, the family agreed to proceed.
FCRF Launches CCLP Program to Train India’s Next Generation of Cyber Law Practitioners
Step-by-Step Deception
On January 1, 2025, Alam visited Malik’s residence in Shaheen Bagh with his son. The next day, Malik instructed Umar to submit his passport and undergo a medical examination, allegedly required by the embassy. Malik demanded ₹11,000 for the medical process and sent a fabricated medical certificate via WhatsApp.
Over the following weeks, the accused extracted additional payments: ₹50,000 on January 21, ₹40,000 shortly after, and ₹50,000 on February 6. On January 28, Malik sent Umar a fraudulent job offer letter, further convincing the family of the process’s legitimacy. By the end of February, the total amount defrauded reached ₹2.41 lakh.
Fake Visa and Broken Promises
In March 2025, Malik sent Umar a forged Luxembourg visa and assured the family that flight tickets would be issued by April 9. However, as the date approached, Malik began avoiding calls and failed to deliver any assurances. Suspicious, the family verified the documents with the Luxembourg Embassy, which confirmed both the visa and offer letter were forgeries. Attempts to recover the money failed when the cheques issued by Malik bounced.
Police Investigation Underway
The Aman Vihar Police confirmed that an investigation has been launched, examining the accused’s bank transactions and digital communications. “All evidence is being reviewed, and the suspect’s movements are being traced. Appropriate legal action will follow based on findings,” an officer said.
Authorities note that cases like these reflect a rising trend in international employment fraud, where scammers exploit social media and messaging platforms to target young professionals. Cybercrime experts warn that such schemes often involve fake company websites, forged documents, and cloned email addresses to lend credibility.
Expert Warnings and Precautionary Advice
Experts emphasize the importance of verifying employment offers through official embassy channels before making payments or sharing sensitive personal documents. They caution that educated youth seeking overseas employment are particularly vulnerable to sophisticated scams.
Broader Implications
This incident underscores the need for heightened awareness and caution when navigating overseas job opportunities through digital platforms. Authorities stress that only verified, government-approved recruitment agencies should be trusted. Investigators said strict action will be taken against the accused once the inquiry concludes, aiming to dismantle fraudulent networks and prevent future financial and emotional harm to aspiring professionals.
