Fake Placement Racket in Lucknow Dupes 250 Job-Seekers; Police Probe Multi-State Recruitment Fraud

Fake Placement Racket in Lucknow Dupes 250 Job-Seekers; Police Probe Multi-State Fraud Network

Lucknow police busted a fake placement racket that allegedly duped 250 job-seekers across India using forged offer letters, fake HR calls and recruitment fee demands.

Lucknow, 15 June 2026: A fake job placement racket operating from Lucknow has allegedly cheated around 250 job-seekers across India by promising employment in reputed companies and collecting money under the guise of recruitment-related charges.

According to the Lucknow cyber crime cell and cyber police station, the racket was busted during a raid at an illegal call centre operating from the fourth floor of RS Tower in Vibhuti Khand. Police arrested five accused in connection with the case and recovered mobile phones, Android devices, a laptop and multiple data sheets containing personal details of prospective candidates.

How the Fake Placement Racket Operated

Investigators said the accused allegedly targeted unemployed youth, fresh graduates and job aspirants looking for opportunities in well-known companies. The suspects reportedly posed as representatives of leading recruitment platforms and later transferred interested candidates to senior operators, who introduced themselves as HR executives of reputed organisations.

Once candidates were convinced, the accused allegedly shared forged offer letters, joining letters, approval letters, registration documents and other fake employment papers through WhatsApp. These documents reportedly carried logos, seals and signatures of reputed companies to make the offers appear genuine.

Victims were then asked to pay money under different pretexts, including registration fees, gate-pass charges, document verification fees and processing charges. Police said the fraudsters used these tactics to gain trust and extract payments from job-seekers seeking urgent employment.

Forged Offer Letters and Candidate Data Recovered

During the raid, police seized 11 keypad mobile phones, Android devices, a laptop and 72 data sheets containing personal information of potential candidates.

A preliminary examination of the seized laptop reportedly revealed forged offer letters, joining letters and employment-related documents prepared in the names of multiple candidates. Some fake appointment documents offered annual salary packages ranging between ₹4 lakh and ₹6 lakh.

Police also found that the seized mobile numbers and IMEI details were linked to more than 60 cyber fraud complaints registered on the national cyber crime reporting portal. These complaints were reportedly filed from several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

Police Suspect Wider Network Beyond Uttar Pradesh

Police suspect that the fraud network may extend beyond Uttar Pradesh and could involve operatives in other states. Further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the syndicate and trace possible links with similar job fraud operations across the country.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Rising Concern for Job-Seekers

The case highlights a growing threat for job aspirants, particularly fresh graduates and unemployed youth who are actively searching for employment through online platforms, WhatsApp messages and recruitment calls.

Fake job rackets often use the names of reputed companies, professional-looking documents and urgent joining promises to mislead candidates. In many cases, victims are pressured to make quick payments for verification, training, registration or onboarding formalities.

Advisory for Job-Seekers

Job-seekers are advised to remain cautious while responding to job calls, WhatsApp messages or emails from unknown recruiters. Genuine companies usually do not demand money from candidates for job offers, joining letters or document verification.

Candidates should verify recruiter details through the official company website, check the email domain carefully, avoid sharing sensitive documents with unknown contacts and never transfer money for employment confirmation. Suspicious job offers should be reported through official cybercrime reporting channels.

Key Takeaways

1. Around 250 job-seekers were allegedly duped through a fake placement racket.
2. The illegal call centre was busted in Lucknow’s Vibhuti Khand area.
3. Accused persons allegedly posed as HR executives of reputed companies.
4. Fake offer letters, joining letters and approval documents were shared through WhatsApp.
5. Victims were asked to pay registration, gate-pass, verification and processing fees.
6. Police seized mobile phones, a laptop and candidate data sheets.
7. More than 60 cyber fraud complaints were linked to seized devices across multiple states.

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Job Scam, Fake Placement, Cyber Crime, Recruitment Fraud, Job Seekers, Employment News, Skill Development, Career Safety, Lucknow News, SkillCouncils