Bengaluru: A 32-year-old woman from SVG Nagar in Moodalapalya was cheated of ₹80 lakh by a man who promised to get her a job at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) through his alleged “political connections”. The accused, identified as Abhishek, a resident of K Ganadakatte village in Channagiri taluk, Davanagere district, is currently absconding, police said.
Met at a wellness workshop
According to police, the complainant met Abhishek at a workshop conducted by a herbal life products company last year, where she worked. The two exchanged contact numbers on July 8, 2024, and stayed in touch. Over time, Abhishek reportedly gained the woman’s trust by claiming to have close ties with influential politicians and senior transport department officials.
He told her there were several vacancies in the RTO and offered to “help” her secure a position — but only if she paid a hefty amount as a bribe to “grease the officials’ palms”.
Conman took ₹80 lakh through multiple transfers
In her complaint, the woman said she trusted Abhishek’s assurances and arranged for the money by pledging her gold ornaments, using funds she had saved to buy a site, and exhausting all her savings. She then transferred ₹80 lakh to Abhishek through multiple online transactions.
After receiving the money, Abhishek handed her a forged appointment order on an official transport department letterhead, complete with a fake signature of a senior officer and a counterfeit government seal. He told her she would soon receive a message about her joining date.
Realising the fraud
However, when the woman tried to verify the appointment letter, she discovered that it was fake. Shocked, she confronted Abhishek, who initially argued with her and later claimed he would return her money if she didn’t trust him. Soon after, he went missing, and his contact number became unreachable.
The address he had shared with her also turned out to be false, police said.
Determined to recover her money, the woman traced Abhishek’s real address in Davanagere and visited his house along with her husband. But instead of cooperating, Abhishek threatened to kill them with a machete if they returned or complained to the police.
Police register cheating case
Based on her complaint, Govindarajanagar police have registered a case against Abhishek under sections 318 (cheating), 340 (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said that efforts are on to trace and arrest the accused, who has gone into hiding after duping the victim. Investigators are also looking into whether he has cheated others in a similar manner.
Job scams on the rise
Police have urged citizens to be cautious of job offers that involve paying money or bribes. Officials warned that many conmen are now using fake government letterheads, forged seals, and digital documents to trick unsuspecting jobseekers.
“People should remember that no genuine government job requires money or influence. Verification through official channels is essential before transferring any funds or sharing personal information,” said a senior police officer.
Victim’s ordeal highlights need for awareness
The case has once again underlined the rising number of employment scams targeting young professionals in Bengaluru. Many such fraudsters operate by exploiting the desperation of job aspirants, often posing as insiders with “connections” in government departments.
As the investigation continues, the victim hopes that police will soon catch the conman and recover at least a portion of the money she lost — the result of her hard-earned savings and pledged assets.