In a significant crackdown on employment fraud, Noida police have arrested three more individuals operating a sham call centre in Sector 16, Uttar Pradesh, targeting desperate job seekers with bogus job offers.

The bust, which occurred on Monday, November 25, 2025, builds on earlier arrests and exposes a sophisticated racket that has potentially defrauded thousands across India, exploiting the high unemployment rates among youth in urban areas like Noida.

The latest arrests involve Vishal Raghav, 26, from Ghaziabad; Amir Usmani, 52, from Moradabad; and Varun Kumar, 27, from Delhi.

These suspects were apprehended following leads from two previously detained individuals, Anuj Kumar, 33, from Meerut, and Romesh Malik, 24, from Shamli, who were nabbed last week.

With these additions, the total number of arrests in this case stands at five, highlighting the organized nature of the operation that has been active since at least 2017.

The scam’s modus operandi involved purchasing bulk data of job seekers for around ₹30,000 from online sources.

Posing as legitimate recruiters, the fraudsters contacted victims via phone, promising secure positions in reputed companies.

They then extracted payments ranging from ₹980 to ₹2,000 under various pretexts, such as registration fees, document verification, employment checks, file submission, and profile finalization.

Victims, often unemployed graduates from various states, were lured by the promise of quick placements and refundable deposits, only to realize the deception when no jobs materialized.

Authorities revealed that the gang procured dedicated bank accounts, debit cards, cheque books, and pre-activated SIM cards to facilitate transactions and maintain anonymity.

This setup allowed them to route funds efficiently, often through accounts that could be linked to commissions or quick transfers, minimizing traceability.

The operation was run from a rented space in Sector 16, a bustling commercial area, which provided a veneer of legitimacy to their activities.

During the raids, police seized a haul of incriminating evidence, including multiple mobile phones, SIM cards, bank cards, forged documents, stamp seals, fake joining letters, and computers.

These items underscore the scale of the fraud, with digital trails pointing to widespread data misuse and financial manipulation.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, with investigations ongoing to uncover additional accomplices and recover defrauded amounts.

This incident reflects a growing trend of cyber-enabled job scams in Uttar Pradesh, where urban unemployment hovers around 7-8%, driving many to fall prey to such schemes.

Experts note that similar rackets have surged post-pandemic, capitalizing on online job portals and social media for victim sourcing.

Varun Kumar, one of the arrested, was allegedly running a parallel call centre using identical tactics, indicating a networked approach among fraudsters.

To protect against these scams, job seekers are advised to verify offers through official company websites or portals like Naukri.com and LinkedIn’s verified sections.

Never pay upfront fees for job applications, as legitimate employers do not charge for recruitment.

Report suspicious activities to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or via cybercrime.gov.in promptly.

Additionally, cross-check recruiter details and avoid sharing sensitive information like bank details early in the process.

As authorities intensify efforts to dismantle such networks, this bust serves as a cautionary tale for India’s job market.