New Delhi:
A fake call centre allegedly duping job seekers on the pretext of offering employment with Air India has been busted by the Cyber Police of Delhi’s East District. Three people, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the alleged cyber-fraud.
According to Delhi Police, the accused were allegedly posing as Air India HR representatives and offering ground-duty jobs to prospective candidates. They allegedly demanded money from victims towards registration and other employment-related charges and asked them to make payments through UPI.
The case came to light after a resident of Chhattisgarh approached the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, alleging that he had been cheated on the promise of an Air India job. The complainant said he received a call from a person claiming to be an Air India HR representative and was offered employment for Rs 14,000. Believing the offer to be genuine, he transferred Rs 14,500 through UPI before realising that he had been duped.
During the investigation, police traced the money to a bank account from which the amount was allegedly withdrawn through an ATM in East Delhi. An FIR was subsequently registered at Cyber Police Station, East District, on August 20 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police traced the account to 30-year-old Md. Zaid, a resident of Wazirabad, Delhi, and arrested him from Laxmi Nagar. During interrogation, his alleged links with two women came to light.
Investigators found that the accused were allegedly operating a call centre from Laxmi Nagar for the past few months. They allegedly used multiple mobile numbers to contact job seekers, impersonated Air India HR personnel and offered them ground-duty positions. Victims were allegedly asked to transfer money into different bank accounts, after which the money was withdrawn through nearby ATMs and distributed among the accused.
Police said one of the arrested women had allegedly been operating the call centre for around three months. A search of the premises led to the recovery of multiple mobile phones and SIM cards, including the SIM allegedly used in the case.
The police also found two other complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal that were allegedly linked to mobile numbers being used by the accused.
Apart from Zaid, who is a school dropout and unemployed, a 24-year-old woman from Wazirabad, who is a BA second-year dropout, and a 21-year-old woman from Laxmi Nagar, who is a Class 12 pass-out have been arrested.
Police recovered six smartphones, three keypad mobile phones containing multiple SIM cards and Rs 25,000 in cash from the accused.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the alleged network and determine their involvement in similar cases.
Delhi Police has advised citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited job offers and not to share OTPs, PINs, passwords, banking credentials or card details with unknown callers. People who fall victim to cyber fraud have been advised to immediately report the incident on 1930, the national cybercrime helpline, or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
