Ludhiana Woman Duped of ₹25 Lakh Through Instagram Work-Permit Scam; Four Accused Booked
A 38-year-old woman from Payal in Ludhiana district was allegedly cheated of ₹25 lakh by a fake immigration network that operated primarily through Instagram, police said. An FIR has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Khanna, and four individuals have been booked for their involvement in the scam.
According to investigators, the victim had come across a page on Instagram that claimed to help applicants secure Canadian work permits and permanent residency “within weeks.” Trusting the assurances, she contacted the operators and was instructed to deposit an initial amount of ₹15 lakh in November. Later, the fraudsters demanded another ₹10 lakh, telling her that her visa had been approved and that travel arrangements had been finalised.
The truth surfaced when the woman attempted to board a flight to Canada from Delhi. Airport authorities flagged her documents as fake, after which she immediately filed a police complaint.
Police said the four accused — identified as Patel Shilpaben of Surat (Gujarat), Kuljit Pal Singh of Kot Ise Khan, Jaskaran Singh of Amritsar, and Rahul Sharma of Rani Bagh in Delhi — were running the scam by designing fabricated visas and using social-media posts to attract victims.
Investigators have booked the suspects under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including offences related to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act for impersonation and digital fraud. Officials stated that raids are underway to trace and arrest the accused.
Police added that the case reflects a growing trend where fraudsters exploit social-media platforms to lure young people with promises of quick overseas job opportunities. Authorities have urged residents to verify the credentials of immigration consultants and avoid paying large advance amounts to unlicensed entities.
The investigation is ongoing, and more victims may come forward as the scam appears to have targeted multiple individuals across states.