Metro on alert mode as fraudsters trap job aspirants via fake websites & social media

Nagpur: Rackets promising a dream job in MahaMetro in exchange of money have compelled officials to track and shut down fraudulent websites, social media pages and job advertisements almost every week. The scam reached alarming level recently when fraudsters allegedly issued a forged appointment letter bearing MahaMetro's official logo. MahaMetro officials approached Bajaj Nagar police station in this regard, and an FIR is expected to be registered soon. Sources said scammers are no longer relying on crude tricks. Instead, they are creating professionally designed websites resembling official recruitment portals, operating fake social media accounts and contacting job seekers with promises of employment, allegedly in exchange for money, documents or personal information. "Misuse of MahaMetro's identity has become a recurring problem. We are identifying and taking down at least one or two fake recruitment-related pages or websites almost every week," top sources told TOI. Officials estimate that the number of such attempts runs into dozens every year. The fraudsters are particularly targeting unemployed youth desperately searching for stable govt or semi- govt jobs. Cyber criminals are offering shortcuts into the Metro system, often demanding processing fees, security deposits or sensitive personal data."Broadly, two types of scammers are active. One category demands hefty sums, often 1 lakh to 2 lakh, on the pretext of securing employment. The more worrying and rapidly growing trend involves fraudsters seeking relatively smaller amounts, ranging from 500 to 2,000 as a ‘security deposit'. Since the amount appears modest, many people do not immediately suspect foul play and end up paying. By targeting multiple individuals in a single day, these fraudsters manage to collectively siphon off substantial sums," sources said.Officials said many victims realise they have been duped only after approaching MahaMetro to verify their appointment letters or after interview calls.