25-year-old Mumbai mechanical engineering graduate scammed out of ₹2.64 lakh via fake Canada job scam in 2024

Summary

A 25-year-old mechanical engineering graduate from Ghatkopar, Mumbai, was scammed out of ₹2.64 lakh in a fake Canada job scam. The victim, Neel Shamji Gami, was contacted by a woman identifying herself as Bhavika Goyal from a company called Bright Steps Services in Punjab. Scammers sent him forged documents, including job offers, visa approvals, and bank communications, to lure him into paying for a fake job placement in Canada. Payments totaling ₹2.64 lakh were made between June 4 and June 30, 2024, including amounts for an LMIA document and biometric updates. On July 2, 2024, Neel discovered the documents were fake after verifying with ICICI Bank and VFS Global offices in Mumbai. He reported the incident to the Cyber Crime Helpline and filed an FIR with Ghatkopar Police, who registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.