For months, dozens of residents from Mangaluru’s Kavoor area believed they were on the verge of securing lucrative overseas employment. Instead, they lost nearly ₹1 crore to a pair of fraudsters who allegedly ran a sophisticated fake recruitment operation.
The Kavoor Police have arrested two suspects — Prakruthi U (34) from Anekal Taluk, Bengaluru, and Aldon Rebeiro (42) from Gangolli, Kundapura — on charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under Sections 406, 420, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the victims’ complaint, the accused collected money under the pretext of processing visas and securing jobs abroad. Police said the fraud involved promises of placements in Gulf and Southeast Asian countries.
Police Crackdown and Evidence Trail
Following weeks of surveillance, the Kavoor Police traced the suspects to Bengaluru, where they were apprehended in a coordinated operation led by Inspector Raghavendra M. Baindoor, assisted by PSI Mallikarjun Biradar and a team of constables.
Police recovered 24 passports, 43 grams of gold ornaments worth ₹4.3 lakh, and two mobile phones from the accused. Investigators believe the passports were taken from victims to bolster the illusion of genuine visa processing.
Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said the arrests marked a key breakthrough in curbing fake job rackets preying on aspiring migrant workers. Both suspects have been produced before the jurisdictional court and remanded to custody for further questioning.
Anatomy of a Recruitment Racket
According to investigators, the accused lured victims through word-of-mouth referrals and local agents, offering overseas jobs in the hospitality and construction sectors. Victims were asked to pay processing fees ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹10 lakh each, depending on the country of placement.
“The operation was well-orchestrated,” a senior officer said. “They maintained a professional front — collecting passports, issuing receipts, and even staging mock interviews.”
Police suspect more accomplices may be involved, including those who helped recruit victims or launder the collected funds. Efforts are underway to trace the money trail and digital communications linking the two arrested to other suspects.
A Growing Pattern of Employment Scams
Officials noted that such job frauds have surged in coastal Karnataka, targeting youth seeking employment overseas. Many scams operate under unregistered agencies or shell firms that vanish once payments are made.
Commissioner Reddy urged citizens to verify recruitment agencies through the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) portal and file complaints immediately with local police or the cybercrime helpline 1930 if they suspect fraud.
“This case is a reminder that desperation can make people vulnerable to deceit,” Reddy said. “Every job offer abroad should be cross-checked through official channels.”
