In a troubling case of immigration fraud in Surat, a man has reportedly been swindled out of Rs10 lakh by a con artist promising U.S. visas. The incident occurred in the Katargam area, leading to the arrest of the accused, Kartik Parekh, by local authorities.
Yash Patel, a spice manufacturer, along with his wife, visited their acquaintance Aashaben Paladiya on July 22. During the visit, they met Parekh, who falsely claimed to be a resident of the United States with various business ventures, including a motel, casino, and barbershop. He assured them he could help them open a store in the U.S. and easily sponsor work visas for Indian nationals.
The allure of this opportunity convinced Aashaben, her son Nirant, Yash, and others of Parekh’s credibility. He organized a meeting at the Merit Hotel, where he further ingratiated himself, presenting himself as a successful businessman. Under this pretense, he managed to extract a staggering Rs23 lakh from them for visa facilitation.
During this time, Parekh invited Patel and others to a bungalow in Gandhinagar for a formal introduction. After receiving the funds, he later canceled the invitation, citing a family emergency. Upon visiting the Gandhinagar address, the victims discovered no such property existed, raising their suspicions of fraud.
Their attempts to reach Parekh were futile as his phone was turned off. Realizing they had been defrauded, Patel filed a complaint with the Katargam police station. Acting on the complaint, the police apprehended Parekh and charged him with fraud.
Assistant Commissioner of Police L.B. Zala confirmed that Parekh is now in custody and facing legal action. This incident highlights the increasing prevalence of immigration fraud, with scammers preying on individuals eager to work abroad.
This serves as a cautionary tale for anyone seeking employment opportunities overseas, emphasizing the need to verify the legitimacy of visa facilitation services.
