The Navi Mumbai police have arrested two individuals for allegedly defrauding 17 maritime job aspirants of Rs 41 lakh under the pretext of securing them employment on foreign ships. The arrests were made following a complaint lodged with the police's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which initially flagged the cheating of six candidates before uncovering a larger network of victims.
How the Scam Operated
According to police officials, the accused posed as representatives of a fictitious recruitment agency and lured aspiring maritime professionals with promises of high-paying jobs on international vessels. The victims, predominantly from Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas, were asked to pay sums ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh each for documentation, training, and placement fees. The fraudsters provided fake appointment letters and even conducted mock interviews to build credibility.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vivek Pansare stated, "The accused targeted young individuals seeking careers in the maritime sector, exploiting their aspirations. They collected large sums and then went incommunicado." The investigation revealed that the agency had no registration with any maritime regulatory body.
Police Action and Arrests
The FIU, after receiving the initial complaint about six victims, launched a probe that traced the fraudulent transactions to two suspects. The accused were identified as Ravi Sharma (34) and Amit Singh (41), both residents of Navi Mumbai. They were arrested from their hideouts in the Panvel area on July 3. Police recovered Rs 8 lakh in cash, fake documents, and multiple SIM cards used to contact victims.
Senior Inspector Mahesh Patil of the FIU said, "We are investigating if more individuals were involved. The accused had been operating for at least six months, and we suspect they may have duped more people across Maharashtra." The police have urged other potential victims to come forward.
Impact on Victims
The scam has left many families in financial distress. One victim, 24-year-old Suraj Nair, said, "I paid Rs 2.5 lakh after selling my mother's jewellery. They promised me a job on a cargo ship, but now I am left with nothing." Another victim, Vikram Patil, 27, added, "I borrowed money from friends. We trusted them because they had an office in a commercial building."
Authorities have warned job seekers to verify recruitment agencies through the Directorate General of Shipping or the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways before making payments.
