In a significant crackdown on cyber-enabled job fraud, the Delhi Police has apprehended two individuals from Jaipur for allegedly orchestrating an elaborate recruitment scam by creating a counterfeit website of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The sophisticated operation duped hundreds of government job aspirants with promises of non-existent vacancies.
The Masterminds and Their Modus Operandi
The accused have been identified as Kuldeep, 30, a B.Com graduate pursuing LLB, and Piyush, 25, a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science. According to the police, the duo designed a fraudulent portal that meticulously mimicked the official ASI and relevant ministry websites. They used authentic-looking logos, colour schemes, and layouts to lend credibility to their scheme.
On this fake portal, they advertised 91 fabricated government posts—7 for curator and 84 for junior assistant. Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO) Vinit Kumar stated that the fabricated recruitment advertisements with online application links were uploaded, attracting hundreds of candidates who believed the drive was genuine.
A Multi-Layered Deception Strategy
The investigation by the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit revealed a well-planned, multi-stage fraud. The scammers allegedly paid students and intermediaries to promote these fake vacancies within their networks to reach a wider audience.
In a shocking detail, police said the shortlisting process involved assessing candidates' family backgrounds and financial status. This was done to identify individuals from whom larger sums of money could be extracted later in the scam.
To add a layer of legitimacy, the accused went as far as booking a reputed examination centre in Jaipur and conducted a written test following all standard examination protocols. They intended to declare nearly 50% of the candidates successful to move them to the next phase.
The Final Trap and Arrest
The interview stage was designed to be the final trap. "Selected candidates would be covertly asked to pay hefty bribes in exchange for ‘guaranteed clearance' for the purported government posts," explained DCP Vinit Kumar. However, the police intervention came before this stage could be executed.
Acting on a complaint, the IFSO team tracked down and arrested the duo in Jaipur. Their plan to monetize the hopes of job seekers was foiled, potentially saving hundreds from significant financial loss and emotional distress.
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of online job frauds where criminals use technical expertise to clone government portals. Authorities urge job seekers to verify all recruitment advertisements exclusively through the official websites of concerned departments and ministries.
