Fake agency used same ‘maid’ to dupe families; mastermind, accomplice held

New Delhi: For one family, she was Jhanvi; for another, she was Riya, Lata or Simran. Police said a woman who used multiple identities was part of a fake placement agency racket that duped families seeking domestic help. The operation was recently busted, with two accused — including the alleged mastermind and the woman posing as a maid — arrested.According to police, the complainant had contacted the agency through an online platform in search of domestic help. Soon after, a maid identifying herself as Jhanvi was sent to her residence on a trial basis. The agency assured the complainant that a formal agreement and police verification would be completed once the requisite charges were paid.DCP (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena said, “Trusting the agency’s assurances, the complainant transferred Rs 20,000 through UPI and paid another Rs 13,000 in cash. On May 21, the maid allegedly went to the washroom and disappeared without informing anyone. When the family contacted the agency, its operators initially promised a replacement. Shortly thereafter, both the agency and the maid became unreachable, with their phones switched off.”Following the complaint, a case was registered at Cyber Police Station Shahdara, and a team was formed to investigate the fraud. Officers analysed mobile numbers, IMEI data, digital footprints and financial transaction trails before tracing and arresting the accused.Police identified the accused as Hitai Mukhiya, 36, the alleged mastermind behind the racket, and Jhanvi Kumari, 22, who was repeatedly sent to different households under various names.During interrogation, investigators found that the accused operated multiple fake placement agencies under different names. They advertised domestic help services online, collected advance payments for maid placement, agreements and police verification, and deployed the same woman to multiple homes under different identities.After gaining the trust of a family, the woman would leave within a day or two and move on to another household, enabling the accused to repeatedly collect fresh payments from new victims.Police said they have seized three mobile phones, five SIM cards, an ATM card allegedly linked to the proceeds of the fraud, agency pamphlets, rubber stamps, registration documents and cash receipt slips. Investigators are examining the seized material to identify more victims and ascertain the full extent of the racket.