The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a major crackdown on a sophisticated fake government job racket, conducting simultaneous searches at 15 locations across six Indian states. The raids are part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to a scam that duped numerous victims with promises of employment in over 40 government departments.
Nationwide Raids Uncover Elaborate Fraud Network
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, ED officials carried out coordinated searches in a sweeping operation. The targeted locations span multiple cities and towns, indicating the pan-India reach of the criminal syndicate. Raids are being conducted in Muzaffarpur and Motihari in Bihar; Kolkata in West Bengal; Ernakulam, Pandalam, Adoor, and Kodur in Kerala; Chennai in Tamil Nadu; Rajkot in Gujarat; and Gorakhpur, Prayagraj (Allahabad), and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
How the Fake Government Job Scam Operated
Investigators revealed that the scam initially surfaced with fraudulent offers in the name of the Indian Railways. However, the probe has since uncovered a much wider net. The fraudsters impersonated more than 40 government organisations and departments to trap their victims.
The list of impersonated entities is extensive and includes the Forest Department, Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Indian Post, Income Tax Department, various High Courts, Public Works Department (PWD), Bihar Government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the Rajasthan Secretariat, among others.
The gang's modus operandi was notably elaborate. They created fake email accounts that closely mimicked official government domain names to send out fraudulent appointment letters. To add a layer of credibility and completely disarm suspicion, the criminals went a shocking step further. They reportedly paid initial salaries for two to three months to some of the victims who were placed in fake positions like Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE), and Technician within the Indian Railways.
Probe Focuses on Money Laundering Trail
The Enforcement Directorate's intervention points to the large-scale financial crimes embedded within this employment fraud. The agency is investigating the money laundering angle, tracing the proceeds of the crime collected from desperate job seekers. The payment of 'salaries' was likely a tactic to build trust and encourage victims to pay larger sums or to bring in more recruits, thereby expanding the scam's reach and profitability.
This remains a developing story as ED officials continue their searches to gather evidence, identify the masterminds, and freeze illicit assets. The scale of the raids underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating this multi-state racket that exploited the aspirations of government job seekers across the country.
