Cybercriminals tricked former Army Captain Rakesh Kumar out of Rs 85,000 in a complex employment scam by posing as recruiters for a security services firm.
Living in Una, Himachal Pradesh, Captain Kumar answered a job posting in the newspaper that offered retired junior commissioned officers (JCOs) chances. The ad, placed three to four months ago, provided contact details for further inquiries. Upon calling the number, Kumar was directed to an office in Sector 17-C, Chandigarh, operated by fraudsters under the name “Prefect Solution Security Service.”
Kumar was told by the con artists that they would only hire former soldiers to open a new branch in Una. They asked for an initial Rs 42,500 deposit as a security precaution and another Rs 42,500 upon the branch’s establishment. They also promised a monthly income of Rs 42,500.
Kumar paid the Rs 42,500 ahead as per the demands. Subsequently, the fraudsters demanded an additional Rs 42,500 for licensing and ID card expenses. Trusting the legitimacy of the offer, Kumar made the payment. Despite these transactions, the fraudsters continuously delayed the process and eventually ceased all communication, switching off their phones and disappearing.
Realizing he had been duped, Kumar filed a complaint on February 28. He had maintained contact with the scammers through WhatsApp, which provided some evidence for the investigation. After an inquiry and approval from senior officers, a case was registered under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code at the Mauli Jagran police station on Thursday.
This episode brings to light the increasing danger of job scams that prey on the weak, particularly on retired employees looking for post-employment work. It is a warning to proceed with caution and carefully confirm the authenticity of employment offers, especially those that demand money in advance.
The police are requesting that anybody with knowledge of the scammers or comparable experiences come forward, as they are actively investigating the issue. To save others from becoming victims of similar schemes, the authorities stress how crucial it is to report such frauds.
