Andhra CID arrests man for cheating jobless youth with fake govt job offers

The Cyber Crimes Police of the Andhra Pradesh CID have arrested a man for allegedly cheating unemployed youth by circulating fake government recruitment notifications and promising jobs.

According to the CID, the accused had been running a fake government job recruitment racket for monetary gain. In 2021, he allegedly published a newspaper advertisement claiming recruitment under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, providing a fake email address for applications.

"The Cyber Crimes Police of the Andhra Pradesh CID have arrested Gopal for cheating unemployed youth by circulating fake government recruitment notifications and promising government jobs in the name of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," a CID press release said on Tuesday.

Using details gathered through the fake email address, Gopal allegedly contacted candidates and induced them to pay money in return for government employment.

He forged and circulated recruitment notifications, certificate verification letters, interview letters, appointment orders and training orders using the Government of India emblem, the Ministry's name and the official address of the National Health Mission, Andhra Pradesh, the CID alleged.

Several victims, believing the documents genuine, reportedly went to the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) building at Mangalagiri for verification and joining formalities.

The accused allegedly recruited people through OLX, the online classifieds platform, and used their bank accounts as mule accounts to receive money from victims, offering them roughly 30% commission while retaining the rest and keeping their ATM cards to withdraw funds, the release said.

Gopal also opened a bank account in the name of the Ayushman Bharat Foundation to gain victims' trust, and allegedly used rental cars to present himself as a senior government official during meetings.

Investigators found he had created and used multiple fake email IDs and around 15 mobile numbers obtained through fraudulent KYC documents. Technical analysis also revealed that roughly 278 IMEIs were linked to a single mobile number.

The CID seized two mobile phones — including a smartphone containing the fake email IDs and a keypad phone — along with a laptop containing fake recruitment notifications, call letters and other material. Eight ATM cards, appointment letters, recruitment notifications and other documents were also seized.

Gopal allegedly switched off his phones while moving around Vijayawada to evade detection, but the CID traced and arrested him using digital footprint analysis, technical investigation and surveillance.

Preliminary investigation indicated nearly 60 victims were cheated of about Rs 93 lakh, with around 16 cases registered against Gopal across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over similar job-fraud activity. The CID is examining his possible involvement in other cases and identifying further victims and associates.

Investigators are also tracing the money trail; preliminary findings suggest the proceeds were invested in real estate, with bank accounts, transactions and properties linked to the accused under scrutiny. The alleged procurement and use of forged government emblem stamps and seals from the Patamata area of Vijayawada is also under investigation, officials said, adding that appropriate legal action would follow based on the findings.

The CID advised unemployed youth not to trust job offers made through backdoor methods or middlemen in exchange for money, and to verify recruitment notifications only through official government channels. Police have registered a case under relevant laws over the circulation of forged recruitment notifications, interview letters, appointment orders and training orders.