Ahmedabad man duped of ₹48 lakh in fake UK job visa scam by Mumbai couple

An Ahmedabad resident has complained to the city’s Crime Branch, alleging that he and his wife were defrauded of ₹48 lakh by a Mumbai-based couple who promised to secure them employment and permanent residency in the United Kingdom.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Pratik Gade (26), a resident of Shahibaug, stated that the accused, identified as Vaibhav Shinde and his wife Dhanal Shinde, residents of Mumbai, approached him in June 2023, claiming to run a visa consultancy firm named Fortune International. The couple allegedly promised to arrange five-year UK permanent residency visas, flight tickets, and jobs for Gade and his wife, Muskan, in exchange for ₹36 lakh.

Gade alleged that over several months, the couple gained the family’s trust, frequently visiting their Ahmedabad residence and maintaining regular contact. He said he transferred the money through RTGS and online banking to Fortune International’s account between June and November 2023.

Later, the complainant received what appeared to be official 'offer letters' from UK-based companies 4 Seasons Food Store and Belle Communique Ltd, along with what were purportedly genuine UK work visas. Believing the documents to be authentic, Gade and his wife travelled to London on December 22, 2024.

However, upon arrival, the couple discovered that the companies mentioned in the offer letters did not exist at the stated addresses. When confronted, Shinde allegedly assured them he would 'correct' the situation and provide new employment details. But after repeated failed attempts to contact him, the couple learnt that their visas had been revoked.

Gade stated in his complaint that UK police detained him and his wife in May 2025 after discovering that the company listed on their documents no longer had a valid licence. The two were reportedly kept in custody for two weeks before being deported to India.

Upon returning to Ahmedabad, Gade contacted an acquaintance in Mumbai who revealed that the job offer letters had been forged using details from unrelated companies. Further inquiries showed that Belle Communique Ltd had already lost its licence before the couple left India.

The complainant alleged that the Shindes had taken a total of ₹48 lakh — including an additional ₹12 lakh borrowed from his elder brother — under the pretext of visa processing and permanent residency charges. When confronted about delays, the accused allegedly demanded another ₹15 lakh, threatening to implicate the couple in false police cases if they persisted.

Based on the complaint, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has booked Vaibhav and Dhanal Shinde under sections of cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation. Police officials said efforts are underway to trace the accused, who are believed to be absconding from Mumbai.

A senior official from the Crime Branch said, “Preliminary investigation suggests the couple operated a fake visa consultancy racket targeting people seeking overseas jobs. More victims may surface as the probe progresses.”