In a serious case of fraud, a job aspirant was allegedly cheated out of Rs16 lakh by a Mangaluru-based academy in Kodialbail, which falsely promised to secure a foreign employment visa.
According to the FIR filed at Mangaluru North Police Station, the victim responded to a Facebook advertisement posted by the academy, which claimed to arrange employment visas within 90 days for a fee of Rs16 lakh.
The accused, identified as Suraj Joseph, allegedly demanded an advance payment of Rs2 lakh in cash after verifying the victim’s documents. He then pressured the victim into paying the remaining Rs14 lakh, warning that any delay would result in visa cancellation.
The complainant stated that:
Rs3 lakh was transferred on October 27, 2023
Rs13 lakh was transferred on December 1, 2023
Despite receiving the full payment, no visa was issued.
On March 20, 2024, the complainant visited the academy again. Suraj Joseph gave a written assurance on stamp paper, promising to deliver the visa within three months, or refund the full amount within six months. The document carried the academy’s seal and Joseph’s signature.
However, neither the visa was delivered nor any refund initiated. Later, the accused issued a cheque for Rs16 lakh, dated October 3, 2024, in favor of the complainant’s son. When the cheque was presented on December 16, 2024, it bounced due to insufficient funds.
A formal case has been registered, and police have launched an investigation into the alleged job scam. Authorities are probing the financial fraud and verifying whether other individuals have been targeted similarly.
