Mangaluru: In a shocking case of fraud, a recruitment agency named Hire Grow Elegant Overseas International, operating from Bendoorwell, has allegedly swindled nearly 300 job seekers out of ₹9 crore with false promises of overseas employment.
At a press briefing, Lawrence, president of the Congress labour unit, accused several such agencies in Dakshina Kannada of functioning without registration under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He highlighted that these agencies prey on innocent aspirants with dreams of working abroad, only to cheat them.
Though job frauds in the region have declined slightly due to better online awareness, incidents like this expose ongoing vulnerabilities. In October–November 2024, the Protector of Emigrants (POE) office in Bengaluru had warned Mangaluru police about unregistered agencies. Hire Grow Elegant was among three that received notices — but no firm action followed.
In November 2024, the agency advertised lucrative overseas openings and collected over ₹1.75 lakh per candidate from 300 individuals — 185 from Dakshina Kannada and others from Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Payments were made via QR codes, not in cash, under the guise of covering visa, medical, and travel costs.
By April-end, instead of tickets or visas, applicants received only their original documents back. The agency suddenly shut shop on May 2, prompting victims to approach the police.
The City Crime Branch (CCB) has since arrested the agency’s owner, Masiuallah Atiualla Khan, now in judicial custody. Three others have been booked at Kadri police station in connection with the fraud.
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