Noida police shut down a bogus call centre that pretended to recruit for SpiceJet, extracting thousands of rupees from job seekers. A 40‑year‑old man from Kanpur paid over ₹12,000 in fees, only to be turned away at the airport gate.

Key Takeaways

  • Police dismantle a fake call centre operating out of Noida.
  • Hundreds of job seekers, including a Kanpur resident, were scammed with false airline offers.
  • Operation Cyber Vajra led to the arrest of four suspects.

Ten days ago, a 40‑year‑old resident of Kanpur arrived at his city’s domestic airport, thrilled about a job he had secured two days earlier. After years of unemployment and watching his son struggle for work, he had been relentlessly applying on online portals that list vacancies ranging from architects to laborers. Then a call came: “Are you still looking for a job? We have openings at your nearest airport,” claimed a voice posing as a recruiter for SpiceJet.

The Scam Unfolds

Believing the call to be a lifeline, the man paid a registration fee of ₹1,150 followed by ₹5,480 for training. When the “recruiter” later demanded another ₹6,000 for a uniform, the victim decided to report for duty first and arrange the uniform later. However, upon reaching the airport, security stopped him at the gate. Repeated calls to the recruiter went unanswered; the SIM used had already been discarded.

Police Investigation

Under “Operation Cyber Vajra,” Noida police traced the fraud to a fake call centre in Sector 2. Analyzing WhatsApp chats and phone records, investigators discovered that the perpetrators harvested personal data from online job portals, fabricated appointment letters, and funneled money into mule bank accounts. The raid resulted in the arrest of four suspects – Sudesh Singh (36), Brijesh Bhadhoriya (38), Arjun (23) and Sandeep Kumar (32) – some of whom previously worked in a legitimate call centre or even as e‑rickshaw drivers.

National Impact

So far, about 20 complaints linked to this racket have been lodged across several states, but authorities suspect the actual victim count is far higher. Unemployed individuals are especially vulnerable to such offers, drawn by the prestige of an airline name and the promise of immediate employment.

Preventive Measures

Experts urge job seekers to verify recruiters through official airline channels, avoid upfront fees, and cross‑check bank details before transferring money. Strengthening cyber‑law enforcement and public awareness campaigns are essential to curb similar scams in the future.