Udupi: A man from Udupi was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.5 lakh after fraudsters promised to arrange a visa for overseas employment following his response to an advertisement on Facebook.
According to the complaint, the victim came across a website promoted through Facebook and applied for a visa. On June 20, two men who introduced themselves as Vishnumani and Srinivasan from Chennai contacted him by phone and offered to arrange the visa for Rs 1.5 lakh.
Victim transfers money in two instalments
Trusting their assurances, the complainant transferred Rs 75,000 through UPI on July 2 from his daughter’s bank account to an account held in the name of Vrishnakuppa Aarthi.
He subsequently transferred another Rs 75,000 online from his son-in-law’s bank account to an account in the name of Ajith Kumar.
However, after receiving the entire amount, the accused allegedly failed to arrange the promised visa. They also stopped responding to the complainant’s calls, raising suspicions that he had been cheated.
Brahmavar Police register case
Realising that he had fallen victim to an alleged online employment scam, the man approached the police and lodged a complaint.
Based on his complaint, Brahmavar Police registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
The incident highlights the risks of responding to unverified social media advertisements offering overseas employment and visa services. Job seekers are advised to verify the credentials of agencies and individuals before transferring money for recruitment or visa-related services.