UP job scam: 4,000 duped of ₹40,000 each by fake government recruitment racket in Ballia
More than 4,000 people in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district have allegedly been cheated in a fraudulent job recruitment scheme that promised government positions at organisations deceptively named to sound like official bodies. Police registered a case against 13 named and five unidentified individuals on Wednesday (August 26) following a complaint filed by a local villager.
The accused are said to have operated under the names of 'Laghu Udyog Vikas Parishad', 'Ujjwala Shiksha Mission', and 'Audyogik Prashikshan Mahila Vikas Yojana' from a rented office in Tikhampur area of Ballia. According to the complaint, the accused falsely claimed that the government planned to appoint two persons in every village and asked applicants to deposit ₹40,000 as security money. In return, they promised a monthly salary of ₹15,000.
Rajesh Kumar Kannaujiya, a resident of Parsupur village, filed the complaint on behalf of the victims. He stated that over 4,000 people from the region made the security deposit and were provided fake appointment letters. The accused reportedly made the applicants perform some work initially before shutting down the office and fleeing.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have begun an investigation. Station House Officer Vansh Bahadur Singh confirmed that a case has been lodged and the matter is being looked into. No arrests have been reported so far.
This incident highlights a recurring pattern of fraudulent job scams in various parts of the country, where unemployed youth are often lured by the promise of secure government employment. The use of names resembling official schemes and organisations is a common tactic to gain the trust of unsuspecting applicants.
Authorities advise job seekers to verify the authenticity of any recruitment process through official government websites or by contacting concerned departments directly. They caution that genuine government recruitments never require security deposits or payments for application, and any such demand should be treated as a red flag.
The victims of the Ballia scam are now seeking the return of their hard-earned money. The police investigation is expected to trace the accused and determine the full extent of the fraud. This case also serves as a reminder for citizens to remain vigilant against such fraudulent offers and report any suspicious activities to the local police immediately.
