Work visa scam: 9 TN men cheated of Rs 90 lakh

In a shocking case of international job fraud, nine men from Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu were duped of nearly ₹90 lakh by two individuals posing as overseas employment agents in Lucknow. The victims were lured with false promises of jobs in Serbia and genuine work visas.

According to police reports, the accused — identified as Yogesh Yadav and Gokuleshwar Behera — initially contacted the victims through social media platforms. The duo promised the applicants well-paying jobs in Serbia and demanded ₹10 lakh from each individual for processing work visas, air tickets, and other travel arrangements.

After collecting the passports and initial payments in April 2024, the accused invited the victims to Lucknow to collect their documents and finalize the arrangements. Upon reaching Lucknow, the victims were given flight tickets, which were later found to be cancelled. When they tried to contact the agents, their phones were switched off, and they soon discovered that the office address provided was fake.

Realizing they had been scammed, the victims filed a complaint at the Vikas Nagar police station in Lucknow. An FIR has been registered, and police have launched a manhunt to trace and arrest the accused. Authorities are also probing whether the same individuals were involved in similar scams targeting job seekers from other parts of India.

This incident highlights the growing threat of fraudulent overseas job rackets operating under the guise of legitimate recruitment. Police and immigration officials have urged citizens to verify the credentials of foreign job agents through authorized government portals and to avoid making large payments without proper documentation.

Public Advisory:
Job seekers are advised to consult the official Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) website and use only MEA-approved recruitment agents for overseas employment to avoid falling victim to such scams.