How a job-related email cost Delhi man Rs 11 lakh

In today’s digital age, emails offering exciting job opportunities are common. But what if the opportunity you think is genuine turns out to be a well-crafted scam? This is what happened to a man from Karawal Nagar in North East Delhi, who lost a staggering Rs 11 lakh after falling victim to an elaborate online job fraud.

The ordeal began in May 2024, when the complainant received an email from what appeared to be a legitimate recruitment services firm. The email claimed there was an urgent job opening at a university in Oman, and that his qualifications matched the requirements. Flattered by the offer, the man shared his personal documents with the provided email address. Shortly after, he was informed that he had been “selected” for the position, and further communication followed with official-looking emails that demanded payment for various fees.

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These fees included charges for job application processing, document verification, visa, and residence security. As the emails seemed professional, the man continued to make payments, trusting that everything was legitimate. The fraudster even promised that all fees would be refunded during a scheduled visit to Delhi by the university’s HR department for document verification and medical checks, reports TOI.

However, the promised visits never took place which were supposed to happen in August. Then he realised he had been tricked into sending Rs 11 lakh to the scammer’s bank account.

The man reported the incident to the Cyber Cell in North East Delhi. A formal complaint was filed on November 15, and the authorities are now working to track down the fraudsters and recover the stolen money.

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How to protect yourself from such scams

• Be sceptical of unsolicited emails: Always verify the source of job offers, especially if you weren’t expecting them. Official recruitment firms usually don’t approach candidates out of the blue.
• Avoid sharing personal information: Do not send personal documents or money to unverified sources.
• Watch for red flags: If an email asks for money upfront or seems too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
• Double-check official websites: Verify job openings through the official website of the company or university.
• Report suspicious emails: If you suspect an email is a scam, report it to authorities immediately to prevent others from falling victim.