A person running an astrology business has been arrested for allegedly operating a fake overseas consultancy firm and duping gullible people on the pretext of providing jobs abroad, officials said on Friday.
Arrest and identity of the accused
The arrested accused has been identified as Bharat Mishra alias Pritam Kumar Mishra alias Rajesh Prasad (52), a resident of Noida, Uttar Pradesh. According to police, a complaint was received from 27 people alleging that between 2022 and 2023, the accused lured them with promises of overseas employment.
Modus operandi of the scam
The victims visited the office of the alleged company, Sky Blue Overseas Consultancy, located at A1/19B, first floor, DDA Market, Janakpuri, New Delhi. There, they were asked to submit their passports and pay money under the pretext of health check-ups, air tickets, visa processing and other formalities. Subsequently, the victims underwent medical examinations and forged visas and air tickets were also provided to them. However, after some time, the accused allegedly shut down the office and disappeared.
Financial loss and victims
As per complaints from 27 victims so far, the accused and his associates cheated them of approximately Rs 19 lakh, officials said. Police said that during investigation, it was found that the accused operated an overseas placement consultancy under the name Sky Blue Overseas Consultancy and targeted unemployed job seekers by promising lucrative employment opportunities abroad.
Use of forged documents and false identity
The accused allegedly concealed his true identity and operated under assumed names using forged identity documents. The office premises were also rented using fake IDs. He collected passports and substantial amounts of money from victims for visa processing, medical examinations, air tickets and related expenses. To gain their confidence, the accused arranged medical check-ups and provided forged visas and air tickets. After collecting the money, he neither arranged the promised employment nor refunded the amount. He later closed the office, absconded, and became untraceable, thereby cheating victims of their money.
Astrology business as a front
Police said the accused also ran an astrology business from his residence at Shiv Dham Enclave, Phase-2, Sector 80, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. This business may have been used to build trust with potential victims.
