Noida Police Cracks Down on Fake Call Centre Scam Targeting Job Seekers
In a significant operation against cyber fraud, the Cyber Crime unit and Sector 63 police in Noida have dismantled a fake call centre that allegedly defrauded hundreds of job seekers by promising lucrative employment on cargo and cruise ships. Four suspects, including the alleged mastermind, were apprehended from H-Block, Sector 63, on Tuesday following a detailed investigation triggered by a victim's complaint.
Details of the Arrest and Modus Operandi
The joint police team raided the call centre after probing a case filed by one of the individuals cheated by the gang. At the scene, officers found four men—identified as Nitin, Sachin, Aman, and Virendra—operating under the guise of a fake firm named Sea Zone Recruitment and Training. According to police reports, the accused lured job seekers by offering positions such as technicians, fitters, labourers, and cooks aboard ships.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) RK Gautam stated that Nitin was the kingpin and mastermind behind the fraudulent operations. The gang promoted attractive overseas job offers through social media platforms and internet advertisements, targeting vulnerable unemployed individuals from Uttar Pradesh and southern Indian states.
Once candidates expressed interest, they were coerced into paying amounts ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh under various pretexts, including registrations, interviews, medical fitness tests, training, work orders, and visa processing. After collecting the money, the suspects would switch off their mobile phones and disappear, leaving victims in the lurch.
Evidence Seized and Financial Irregularities
During the raid, police seized substantial evidence from the premises, including:
- Four laptops
- Eleven mobile phones
- Nine debit cards
- Rs 12,000 in cash
- Nine fake offer letters
- Medical documents and referral letters
- Five fabricated medical certificates
- Six candidate calling lists
Investigations revealed that the firm lacked a valid GST registration, and payments were either collected in cash or transferred into personal bank accounts, highlighting the illicit nature of the operation. Assistant Commissioner of Police Umesh Yadav noted that the gang rented the office space for nearly Rs 50,000 per month and was planning to relocate before their arrest.
Broader Context and Ongoing Probe
This incident is part of a troubling trend in Noida, where similar scams have been uncovered in recent months. Police have busted at least two other gangs with comparable modus operandi:
- In one case, four men were arrested from a fake call centre in Sector 132 as they attempted to wrap up operations and move to Aligarh.
- In another instance, six individuals were apprehended after a fraudulent call centre bust in Sector 113, which had cheated over 350 people seeking cruise jobs, amounting to Rs 1.5 crore.
Authorities are now intensifying efforts to investigate the involvement of other associates and trace financial transactions linked to this latest fraud. Further arrests are anticipated as the probe continues, underscoring the police's commitment to combating cyber crime and protecting job seekers from such deceptive schemes.
