In a major breakthrough in an overseas job scam, Karthika Pradeep, a woman from Pathanamthitta, was arrested in Kozhikode by Central police. Pradeep allegedly duped several victims under the guise of providing job placements abroad, particularly in the UK. Running a consultancy named Takeoff Consultancy, she promised jobs as social workers, demanding large sums of money, including a case where she cheated a Thrissur native of Rs 5.23 lakh.
Police investigations revealed that Pradeep’s consultancy was operating without a valid licence or Protector of Emigrants (PoE) authorization, rendering her operations illegal. Complaints against her consultancy have surfaced from several districts. Meanwhile, an audio clip surfaced online, reportedly from Pradeep, in which she admits to her fraudulent activities, claiming that she lived by cheating as a skill.
The police are continuing to investigate the full extent of her operations, with more potential victims expected to come forward. Pradeep’s arrest has raised questions about the lack of regulation in such consultancies, further highlighting the need for stringent checks on agencies offering overseas job placements.
