Bilaspur, March 12 — Two youths in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district were allegedly cheated of ₹1 lakh after being promised employment in a government-linked job scheme, police officials said on Wednesday.
According to the complaint filed with local police, the accused individuals approached the victims with assurances that they could arrange jobs for them. The suspects reportedly demanded money as part of the recruitment process and instructed the youths to transfer funds through digital payment platforms.
Investigators said the victims were asked to withdraw ₹50,000 each through Google Pay transactions, which were then transferred to the accused under the pretext of processing their job applications.
Victims realized fraud after job offer failed
The victims later discovered that the job promises were false when no recruitment process materialised. Attempts to contact the accused reportedly failed, prompting the youths to approach the police and file a complaint.
Police officials confirmed that the case has been registered and an investigation has been launched to identify and trace the individuals involved in the alleged fraud.
Authorities said the case reflects a growing trend in which fraudsters exploit unemployed youths by offering fake employment opportunities in exchange for money.
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Digital payment misuse in fraud cases
Investigators noted that digital payment platforms are increasingly being used in such scams because transactions can be completed quickly and remotely. In many cases, victims transfer money before verifying the authenticity of the job offer.
Cybercrime and financial fraud units across the country have repeatedly warned job seekers to exercise caution when responding to recruitment offers that require advance payments.
Officials said genuine recruitment processes—especially in government sectors—do not demand upfront payments for job appointments.
Police advise caution
Police officials have urged residents to remain alert and verify the credentials of any recruitment agency or individual claiming to provide employment opportunities.
Authorities also advised job seekers to avoid transferring money through digital platforms without proper documentation or official confirmation.
The investigation is ongoing, and police said efforts are underway to identify the accused and recover the defrauded amount.
