Ahmedabad Woman Cheated of ₹13.93 Lakh in Fake US Job and Work Visa Scam
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A 45-year-old woman from Ahmedabad’s Khanpur area was cheated of ₹13.93 lakh by cyber fraudsters who promised her a job and work permit visa in the United States using fake recruitment documents.
The accused lured the woman through an advertisement on Instagram, conducted a bogus job interview over Zoom and sent forged US visa and employment documents to gain her confidence. The Cyber Crime Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
According to the complaint filed by Neelam Samir Shaikh, a resident of the area opposite Khanpur Gate, the fraud took place between August 7 and August 28.
Shaikh came across an Instagram advertisement offering employment opportunities and work permit visas in the US. After contacting the advertisers, she received WhatsApp messages from a person identifying himself as Michael Kim. The accused also communicated with her through multiple email addresses.
Fake Zoom Interview, Forged US Documents
The fraudsters allegedly arranged an online interview through Zoom in the name of Kulsan Engineering Company. Posing as the company's HR head and interviewing officer, they convinced Shaikh that she had been selected for a job in the US.
To make the offer appear genuine, they sent her several forged documents, including a US job offer letter, DS-160 visa application form, medical appointment confirmation, IC-497 notice, currency exchange letter, biometric appointment confirmation and US consular interview appointment notice.
Believing the documents to be genuine, Shaikh agreed to pay the amounts demanded by the accused for visa processing, employment formalities and other charges.
₹13.93 Lakh Transferred to Multiple Bank Accounts
The fraudsters allegedly persuaded her to transfer a total of ₹13.93 lakh into different bank accounts on multiple dates.
However, neither the promised job nor the US visa materialised. When the woman sought the promised services and the return of her money, the accused failed to fulfil their commitments or refund the amount.
Following this, Shaikh approached the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police Station and lodged a complaint.
The police have registered a case against the unidentified persons associated with the WhatsApp numbers, three email IDs and bank accounts allegedly used in the fraud. Further investigation is underway to identify the accused and trace the money transferred by the complainant.
