Team Herald
PANJIM: An overseas job seeker was conned by a cyber fraudster out of Rs 1.51 lakh in a well-orchestrated scam.
According to the Cyber Cell, the incident began in December 2024 when the victim (name withheld) was looking for a job, and a friend referred her to a person who was hiring for an automobile company situated in Bahrain. When the victim contacted him, the fraudster informed her that there was a job available as a Sales Consultant, with a salary of Rs 90,000 per month, and that accommodation would be provided by the company, which delighted the victim.
Initially, the victim was asked to pay Rs 80,000 to create a registration bill, CPR card, LRMA registration certificate (Employment Office), and for insurance and medical expenses. The victim first paid Rs 15,000 to create the registration bill with the employing company, which she paid online. After some time, she was asked to pay Rs 6,000 for the CPR card. Subsequently, she paid Rs 30,000 for the LRMA registration certificate (Employment Office), insurance, and medical expenses.
After paying the initial amount of Rs 80,000, the so-called “agent” requested more money from the victim for ticket booking and visa purposes, to which she initially refused. The “agent” informed her that if she refused to pay, all the money she had initially paid would be lost. Fearing this, she paid an additional Rs 33,000.
As the scam progressed, the victim was coerced into making further payments, with the fraudster claiming that there was a delay in payment and that due to fluctuations in the Bahraini currency, the amount she had paid was insufficient, necessitating further payment. Although the victim initially refused to pay more, the fraudster convinced her that he would cover half of the additional amount and would ensure the work was completed. Consequently, the victim agreed and paid an additional Rs 38,000, bringing the total amount to Rs 1,51,000.
After all the payments were made, the “agent” stopped responding to her calls. Frightened and devastated, the victim immediately lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The modus operandi, known as the "Overseas Job Offer Scam," is a significant threat in the cybercrime landscape, preying on unsuspecting individuals with the lure of high-paying jobs in foreign countries.