A young software professional from Pune has become the latest victim of an elaborate online job scam, losing a staggering sum of money to cyber criminals. The incident highlights the growing sophistication of digital fraud targeting job seekers in India's tech hubs.
The Promise of a Prestigious Job
A 27-year-old software engineer from Thergaon, currently employed with a software company, was actively looking for a change in his career. He had posted his resume on various online job portals in hopes of finding a better opportunity. In May last year, his search seemed to bear fruit when an unidentified man contacted him with a lucrative offer.
The stranger promised the techie a position as a senior software engineer at a well-known and prominent IT company located in Hinjewadi, Pune's major IT park. Lured by the prospect, the engineer engaged with the fraudster, setting off a chain of events that led to significant financial loss.
The Elaborate Web of Deceit and Demands
After establishing initial contact, the accused began to ask for money, citing a series of fabricated official requirements. The requests started with a demand for subscription charges. Over the next five months, from May to October 2023, the fraudster invented multiple reasons to extract money from the victim.
The engineer was manipulated into transferring funds for various pretexts, including:
- Opening a new account
- Filing a non-existent F-16 form for income tax
- Activation of a supposed 'kit'
- Account closing procedures
- Delivery closing process
- Company security process fees
Trusting the fraudster's assurances, the victim transferred money to different bank account numbers provided to him. The total amount siphoned off reached a shocking Rs 29.16 lakh.
Realisation and Police Action
The scam unravelled when the promised job failed to materialise despite the repeated payments. The techie began pursuing the fraudster for his money back, but his calls and messages went unanswered. It was at this point he realised he had been systematically duped.
The victim subsequently filed an online complaint with the cyber police. Based on his application, a formal case was registered at the Wakad police station on Thursday. An officer involved in the case confirmed the details and stated that the victim is a working professional who was seeking a job switch.
The police have now initiated an investigation, starting with gathering crucial transaction details from the victim's bank. "Our investigations are on," the officer from Wakad police stated, confirming that they are tracing the bank accounts used by the accused to receive the illicit funds.
This case serves as a stark warning for job seekers, especially in the competitive tech industry, to thoroughly verify job offers and be extremely cautious of any upfront monetary demands from potential employers or intermediaries.
