A case of ₹16.05 lakh fraud has been registered by a visa consultant in Ahmedabad against a company for allegedly running a scam in an overseas work permit deal. This case indicates that scams are on the rise in the immigration and job placement industry, where people are being targeted with false promises of overseas job opportunities.
The case was registered on a complaint against a company in Mumbai for allegedly accepting money to arrange multiple work visas but not providing the services or refunding the money.
The alleged fraud relates to a deal involving six work permits, four for Finland and two for Bosnia. The company allegedly charged ₹4 lakh for each applicant for Finland and ₹2 lakh for each applicant for Bosnia.
To gain the client’s trust, the accused company presented the client with samples of visa documents on their laptop and assured the client that the process would be over within three to four months. Believing the company’s promises, the consultant went ahead and entered into the deal, collecting documents from the clients who wanted to work abroad.
The amount of ₹16.05 lakh was transferred to the firm by the consultant in different installments between October 2024 and June 2025. The documents of the applicants were circulated among the applicants via WhatsApp and emails during the process of their applications.
However, despite repeated follow-ups, there was no progress in the process of issuing the visas. The accused allegedly kept on giving excuses for the delay and then stopped responding to the calls and messages.
After waiting for nearly 18 months, the consultant realized that the deal was fraudulent. Neither the visas were issued nor was the refund made.
Having no other option, the consultant approached the police department. He lodged a complaint with the Ghatlodia police department. The authorities have registered a case of cheating and abetment. An investigation is underway.
This incident is a part of the larger trend of visa and immigration fraud cases reported across the country, especially in cities like Ahmedabad.
Some of the common methods adopted by the scammers to trick the victims include:
- Displaying visa samples or approval letters
- Making promises of quick processing times
- Demanding money from the victims
- Refusing to respond once the money is transferred
These scams target the aspirations of individuals to secure better employment opportunities outside the country.
This type of scam not only causes the applicants to lose money, but it also harms the reputation of genuine visa consultants. In this case, the consultant had already obtained the documents and money from the applicants, thus risking his reputation as well as his business.
The applicants who had been promised jobs in various countries, including Finland and Bosnia, are now left in the dark, facing possible losses.
