Authorities in Kerala have issued a warning urging the public to stay vigilant against a surge in visa fraud cases, which have resulted in significant financial losses for many individuals. The Ernakulam Rural District Police reported that they receive multiple complaints daily from victims who have been scammed out of lakhs of rupees through fraudulent job offers abroad.
According to police officials, fraudsters are targeting unsuspecting job seekers by falsely promising employment opportunities in countries such as Europe, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. Most victims are initially drawn in by misleading advertisements on social media platforms. Scammers often claim to have successfully placed numerous candidates in high-paying jobs overseas, thereby building trust and credibility among their targets.
Once convinced, victims are asked to pay large sums of money for registration, processing fees, visa charges, and other purported expenses. Many victims never meet the fraudsters in person and only realize they have been duped when the scammers cease communication after receiving the money.
Police revealed that some fraudsters are based abroad and operate using social media accounts of individuals in Kerala to spread deceptive advertisements. These advertisements often feature local contacts’ phone numbers, with these individuals being promised a commission for recruiting candidates. However, the bank account details belong to the fraudsters, and once payments are made, the overseas scammer disappears, leaving the local contact pleading helplessness.
In some instances, victims are taken abroad but do not receive the jobs they were promised, leaving them stranded in foreign countries without financial support or legal employment.
The scale of the fraud is alarming, with authorities recording 172 cases of visa fraud in Ernakulam rural district last year alone. In just the first two months of this year, 21 FIRs have already been filed.
Police have urged job seekers to secure employment abroad only through legally authorized agencies and to avoid making direct payments to individuals offering overseas job opportunities. The public has been advised to remain cautious and verify the credibility of recruiters before making any financial transactions.
Sources By Agencies
