The Ernakulam overseas job fraud case has come to light after Ernakulam Central Police registered two separate cases against a private consultancy firm and three individuals for allegedly cheating two men from Munambam of a combined ₹4.30 lakh by promising them jobs in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
According to the complaints, the money was allegedly collected through Snehayathra Associates Pvt Ltd, located on Market Road in Ernakulam. The complainants alleged that they paid the amounts in instalments after being assured of overseas employment, but the promised jobs were not arranged and their money was not returned.
Police have named Sheeba Raphel, Raakz Agencies and Sahila Shamsudheen as accused in both cases. The FIRs reportedly invoke Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances of the alleged fraud and the roles of those named in the complaints.
Ernakulam Overseas Job Fraud: Two Separate Cases Registered
Ernakulam Central Police registered the two cases on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following complaints from two men who allegedly paid money to secure employment abroad.
According to the reported details, both complainants are from Munambam. They alleged that the payments were made through Snehayathra Associates Pvt Ltd in connection with overseas job opportunities.
The complaints concern separate payments made over different periods. One complainant allegedly paid ₹2.30 lakh between June and August 2025, while the second allegedly paid ₹2 lakh between October 2024 and August 2025.
Together, the alleged payments total ₹4.30 lakh.
The Ernakulam overseas job fraud investigation will examine how the job opportunities were presented, how the payments were collected and why the promised employment was allegedly not arranged.
First Complainant Allegedly Paid ₹2.30 Lakh
According to the police report, the first complainant alleged that he paid ₹2.30 lakh in three instalments.
The payments were reportedly made between June 4 and August 5, 2025, after he was allegedly promised a job abroad.
The complainant claimed that despite paying the money, the promised employment was not arranged. He also alleged that the amount was not refunded.
The police have registered a case based on the complaint and are investigating the allegations.
The exact nature of the promised job, the terms communicated to the complainant and the circumstances surrounding the payments will be relevant to establishing the facts in the Ernakulam overseas job fraud case.
Second Complainant Allegedly Lost ₹2 Lakh
In the second case, another complainant alleged that he paid ₹2 lakh in three instalments to secure overseas employment.
According to the reported complaint, the payments were made between October 16, 2024, and August 5, 2025.
The complainant alleged that the promised job was not arranged and the money was not returned.
Police are investigating this complaint separately from the first case, although both cases reportedly involve the same named accused and the same consultancy.
The combined amount allegedly involved in the two complaints is ₹4.30 lakh, making the Ernakulam overseas job fraud case a matter of concern for people seeking employment abroad through private recruitment agencies.
Netherlands and Luxembourg Jobs Allegedly Promised
The complaints concern alleged promises of employment in European countries, specifically the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Overseas employment opportunities can involve several stages, including recruitment, employer verification, employment contracts and the relevant work authorisation process. Applicants can face financial losses when they rely on promises that are not independently verified.
In this case, the complainants alleged that they paid money expecting overseas employment but did not receive the promised jobs or refunds.
The police investigation is expected to establish the exact representations made to each complainant and whether the payments were collected under the circumstances described in the complaints.
The Ernakulam overseas job fraud allegations have not yet been established as proven facts.
Who Has Been Named in the Cases?
According to the police report, the following names have been included in both cases:
- Sheeba Raphel
- Raakz Agencies
- Sahila Shamsudheen
The complaints reportedly concern money collected through Snehayathra Associates Pvt Ltd on Market Road, Ernakulam.
The investigation will determine the role, if any, played by each person and entity in the alleged transactions.
Being named in an FIR does not establish guilt. The allegations must be examined through the investigation and judicial process.
Which Legal Sections Have Been Invoked?
The FIRs reportedly invoke the following provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita:
Section 318(4) — Cheating: This provision addresses cheating that dishonestly induces a person to deliver property, subject to the requirements of the law.
Section 3(5) — Common intention: This provision addresses criminal acts carried out by several persons in furtherance of their common intention.
The application of these provisions will depend on the evidence and the facts established during the proceedings.
The Ernakulam overseas job fraud investigation remains ongoing, and police have stated that further inquiries will establish the full details of the alleged offences and the roles of the accused.
How Overseas Job Seekers Can Protect Themselves
The case highlights the importance of checking a recruiter and overseas job offer before making substantial payments.
People seeking jobs abroad should consider the following precautions:
- Verify the recruiter: Check the agency’s identity, credentials and authorisation where applicable.
- Confirm the employer: Contact the foreign employer through independently verified details.
- Get written terms: Ask for the job description, salary, employment contract and details of all charges.
- Keep payment records: Preserve receipts, bank statements, transaction references and written communications.
- Check the work authorisation process: Do not assume that a job offer guarantees a visa or work permit.
- Report suspected fraud: If an agency fails to deliver the promised service or refuses a refund, preserve the evidence and approach the appropriate police or government authority.
For Indian citizens seeking overseas employment, the Ministry of External Affairs provides guidance on verifying recruiting agents and foreign job offers through its official overseas employment FAQs.
The Ernakulam overseas job fraud case is a reminder that applicants should verify both the recruitment agency and the overseas employment opportunity before paying money.
Key Facts About the Ernakulam Overseas Job Fraud Case
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Location | Ernakulam, Kerala |
| Police station | Ernakulam Central Police |
| Number of cases | Two |
| Number of complainants | Two |
| Total amount allegedly involved | ₹4.30 lakh |
| First alleged payment | ₹2.30 lakh |
| Second alleged payment | ₹2 lakh |
| Promised destinations | Netherlands and Luxembourg |
| Consultancy named | Snehayathra Associates Pvt Ltd |
| Other names reported as accused | Sheeba Raphel, Raakz Agencies and Sahila Shamsudheen |
| Legal provisions | Sections 318(4) and 3(5), BNS |
| Current status | Investigation underway |
FAQs : Ernakulam Overseas Job Fraud
1. What is the Ernakulam overseas job fraud case?
The Ernakulam overseas job fraud case involves two complaints alleging that men from Munambam paid a combined ₹4.30 lakh through a consultancy for promised jobs in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, but the jobs were allegedly not arranged and the money was not returned.
2. How much money was allegedly collected?
The two complainants alleged payments of ₹2.30 lakh and ₹2 lakh, respectively, bringing the total to ₹4.30 lakh.
3. Which countries were involved in the alleged job promises?
The complaints concern promised employment in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
4. Which consultancy was mentioned in the complaints?
The payments were allegedly collected through Snehayathra Associates Pvt Ltd, located on Market Road, Ernakulam.
5. Who has been named as accused?
The police reportedly named Sheeba Raphel, Raakz Agencies and Sahila Shamsudheen in both cases.
6. What legal provisions have been invoked?
The FIRs reportedly invoke Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, concerning cheating and acts carried out by several persons in furtherance of common intention.
7. Have the accused been convicted?
No conviction has been reported in the supplied account. The cases are under investigation, and the allegations have not been established as proven facts.
Key Takeaway Of Ernakulam Overseas Job Fraud
The Ernakulam overseas job fraud case concerns allegations that two men from Munambam paid a combined ₹4.30 lakh for promised employment in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Ernakulam Central Police have registered two cases and are investigating the alleged transactions and the roles of those named in the complaints.
The case reinforces the importance of verifying overseas recruiters, confirming job offers independently and maintaining documentary proof of every payment before pursuing employment abroad.
Source : The Times of India
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