A major case of cyber fraud has come to light from Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, where 34 unemployed youths were defrauded of ₹5.2 million under the guise of getting them jobs in the subsidiary companies of Coal India. It is reported that the fraudsters gained the trust of the youths by claiming to be associated with NCL (Northern Coalfields Limited) and promising them well-paid permanent jobs in contractor companies involved in OB (Overburden) removal.
The youths, who were hoping for employment, were charged between ₹100,000 to ₹200,000 per person. The fraudsters also provided fake appointment letters, training letters, and other forged documents to make the whole affair seem genuine. But when neither the jobs materialized nor could they contact the concerned company or person within the stipulated time, the youths realized they had been duped.
Village Youth Masterminded the Fraud
The most shocking aspect of this entire case is that the fraudster is not an outsider but a youth named Sandeep Singh, a resident of Bharunha village in the Nawanagar police station area of Singrauli district. The accused Sandeep targeted 33 youths from his own village and surrounding areas. Most of the victims knew Sandeep beforehand, which made them trust him without much suspicion.
Sandeep assured the youths that he would get them jobs according to their qualifications in a company named Kalinga, which works as a contractor for NCL. Educated youths were promised positions as operators or clerks, while those with less education were promised positions as helpers. The youths were also shown some documents, which further increased their trust.
According to the victim Satish Singh, Sandeep had talked about getting jobs done several times before, and since he was from the village, everyone trusted him. But after months passed without any job or update, and Sandeep kept procrastinating, everyone suspected fraud. After this, all the victims first reached Nawanagar police station, but when no action was taken, they reached the Singrauli SP office and filed a written complaint.
Fraudsters Exploiting Unemployment
The competition to get jobs in coal companies in Singrauli district is no secret. The youths here have a b desire to work in these companies in the hope of better salaries and stability. Taking advantage of this desire, gangs providing fake jobs have become active in the district. These gangs include not only outsiders but also some local people who are defrauding youths struggling with unemployment.
The network of these gangs has become so b that they are extorting lakhs of rupees from youths through fake documents. Many times, after taking money on the promise of a job, they disappear, which not only causes financial loss to the youths but also breaks their confidence.
Questions are also being raised about the functioning of the police. The victims say that despite filing complaints at the police stations, no concrete action is being taken. Many youths have reported this matter before, but no fraudster has been arrested so far. Due to this, the victims have been forced to approach the Superintendent of Police office.
Vigilance is Necessary to Avoid Fraud
In this era of unemployment, youths should thoroughly verify every proposal. If money is demanded in exchange for any kind of job, it is important to be vigilant. Government or reputed companies give jobs only through the recruitment process, not through any agent or broker. In such cases, if there is a suspicion of fraud, immediately contact the concerned police station, cyber cell, or district administration.
Currently, Singrauli police have started investigating the matter and teams have been formed to search for the accused. It is expected that the fraudsters will be arrested soon and justice will be given to the youths.
