Kollur: Shijo, a resident of Jadkal, has been allegedly defrauded of ₹8.95 lakh by an individual named Gautham, who promised to arrange a visa for him to travel abroad. Despite the payment, Shijo never received the visa and was subsequently threatened by Gautham when he sought a refund.
Shijo reported that Gautham had initially demanded ₹15.5 lakh for the visa service but received ₹8.95 lakh in cash. When Shijo confronted Gautham about the visa and requested a refund, Gautham reportedly threatened him with violence. Shijo then filed a complaint at the Kollur police station, detailing the fraudulent transaction.
Further complicating the case, Shijo contacted Gautham’s father, Suresh, in Kumta. Suresh claimed that his son had successfully arranged visas for many people and suggested that a payment of ₹11.75 lakh had been made through the bank. However, Shijo alleges that this statement is inaccurate and that he was cheated out of an additional ₹3.75 lakh without receiving the promised visa.
The Kollur police have registered a case against Gautham, and an investigation is currently underway. This incident underscores the growing issue of visa scams, where individuals are deceived out of substantial sums of money under false pretenses of securing travel visas.
The case highlights the need for vigilance and caution when dealing with visa services, especially through unverified or informal channels. Authorities are working to track down the accused and recover the funds for the victim.
The public is advised to verify the credentials of any visa service provider and be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. The growing number of such scams necessitates increased awareness and vigilance to prevent financial loss and exploitation.