Instances of unscrupulous visa agents preying on gullible people in India are becoming alarmingly common, with victims often left vulnerable and exploited.
In one such case in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district, two fraudsters, along with their accomplices, tricked a young man from Vachhoda village in Porbandar taluka for a staggering Rs 19.80 lakh as advance payment. They promised him a UK work visa without the need for an interview, offering the visa for Rs 26.50 lakh. As expected in such cases, the victim was duped.
This case adds to the growing list of visa frauds, with phoney agents deceiving naive people seeking opportunities outside India.
The victim in this instance, Sunil Sarmanbhai Gorania, was convinced by the accused, Mayur Rameshbhai Barmela and Shyamal Ranchhod Patel, that securing a job in the UK’s construction sector would be easy, with no need for an interview. After taking the victim’s Rs 19.80 lakh, the agents arranged a fake interview at the UK Home Office. When no visa materialised, Sunil was informed that his application had been cancelled. When he demanded his money back, the accused threatened to harm him.
According to reports, Gujarat has seen an increase in visa fraud cases, with 113% more incidents reported in the last three years. Authorities received 139 complaints about visa scams between 2020–21 and 2022–23, and 114 people were arrested as a result. Although they were able to recover Rs 41.14 lakh, the reported financial losses were approximately Rs 74.15 lakh.
Similar frauds are unfolding across the state. In Ahmedabad, a businessman was duped by two visa consultants who promised expedited US visa appointments for Rs 41.50 lakh. They collected the money from multiple victims but failed to deliver any visas, prompting legal action against them.
In another episode, four visa agents exploited 23 people in Gandhinagar by promising them jobs abroad and defrauding them of over Rs 8 crore. These incidents are only a handful of the ways that many innocent Indians suffer both financially and emotionally when they walk into the trap of visa agents.
These frauds reveal how vulnerable people are to promises of quick and easy international opportunities. Scammers exploit their trust and desperation. Although the government is taking steps to address this growing problem, many individuals still fall victim to such schemes.
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