Croatia Job Scam Punjab Youth Allegedly Cheated of ₹10 Lakh

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Croatia Job Scam, A case of alleged immigration fraud has come to light in Punjab, where a youth was reportedly cheated of ₹10 lakh after being promised a well-paid driver’s job in Croatia, which later turned out to be a garbage collection assignment with a shorter visa duration than assured. The police have registered a FIR of fraud and launched an investigation into the matter. Immigration Frauds

Promise of Driver Job Turns into Alleged Scam

The complainant, Ajay Grover alias Monty, told the police officials that he was lured with the promise of a driver’s job in Croatia along with a one-year work visa. According to Monty, the deal was arranged through a Gurdaspur-based visa agent, Lovedeep Singh, who, along with three others, allegedly played a key role in the fraud.

The other accused have been identified as Sukhmohinder Singh, his son Jagdeep Singh, They are currently residing in Germany and his nephew Navrup Singh, a resident of Srikaranpur town in Sri Ganganagar district.

Monty stated that Sukhmohinder Singh assured him that if he could arrange ₹10 lakh, then Navrup Singh would secure him a driver’s job in Croatia with a valid one-year work permit.

Money Transfers and Visa Process

Following the assurance, Sukhmohinder allegedly sent his nephew Navrup to Monty’s house to collect his passport and two security cheques. Monty further told police officials that he made multiple payments during the process. On January 17, 2025, he transferred ₹18,000 to their account, followed by another ₹7,000 on January 19, 2025, taking the initial online payments to ₹35,000.

On February 11, 2025, Lovedeep Singh reportedly submitted Monty’s visa application to the Visa Facilitation Center (VFS) in Mumbai. A few days later, Monty was informed that his work visa had been approved and that he could collect his passport after paying the remaining balance amount.

₹8 Lakh Paid Before Departure

According to the complaint, on May 16, 2025, Monty visited Lovedeep’s office in Gurdaspur along with his friend Sanjeev Goyal and deposited ₹8 lakh in cash. He also paid an additional ₹40,000 for his air ticket.

Lovedeep allegedly provided Monty with a notarized document on a ₹100 stamp paper, detailing the terms and conditions related to sending him abroad, further strengthening his trust in the process.

Reality in Croatia Raises Alarm

Monty said he flew to Croatia on May 18 from Delhi’s IGI airport. Upon arrival in Croatia, he discovered that the job was not a personal driver role as promised. Instead, he was assigned to drive garbage collection vehicles.

More concerning, Monty later found that his work permit was valid for only six months, not the one-year permit he had been assured of before leaving India.

When he raised objections, Lovedeep reportedly told him that he would be made a permanent employee after three weeks and that his work permit would be extended. Trusting these assurances, Monty continued working for six months.

Permit Expiry and Forced Return

After six months, Monty’s work permit expired, and the company terminated his employment. When he contacted Lovedeep again, he was allegedly told that nothing could be done as the agent responsible for extending the permit had backed out.

Left with no legal option to stay, Monty returned to India on November 23, 2025. Upon his return, he contacted Lovedeep, who allegedly promised to return the money within 15 to 20 days. However, no refund was made.

Police Register Fraud Case, Probe Underway

Following Monty’s complaint, the police registered a case of fraud against the accused immigration agent and his associates. The investigation team is now examining financial transactions, documents, and the role of each accused in the case.

Police officials said the matter is under investigation, and further action will be taken based on the findings. The case once again highlights the risks faced by aspiring overseas job seekers and the growing need for stricter checks on immigration agents operating in the region.

Flash News