Palghar, March 1: Four individuals from Palghar district in Maharashtra have reportedly been defrauded of Rs 12.2 lakh by a conman posing as a recruiter for the Customs department. The local police confirmed the incident on Saturday, highlighting yet another case of fraudulent job promises.
The accused, identified as Yogesh Manwar, allegedly approached the victims between 2022 and March 2023, promising them employment in the Customs department. Trusting the authenticity of his claims, the victims collectively handed over a sum totaling Rs 12.2 lakh.
To further deceive the victims, Manwar is reported to have furnished fake identification cards and forged official documents, thereby convincing them that they had secured legitimate positions.
However, the victims soon discovered they had fallen prey to a scam when the promised jobs failed to materialize, and the accused refused to return their money. Subsequently, they filed a complaint with the Palghar police, who have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
As of now, no arrest has been made, but police authorities have initiated an investigation to track down the accused.
The incident once again underscores the prevalence of job fraud in the region, urging caution among job seekers to verify authenticity thoroughly before making payments or sharing sensitive information.