Kerala Police late Thursday arrested the chief executive of a Kochi-based immigration consultancy after multiple complaints of overseas job fraud. Investigators say the firm promised high-paying positions in Armenia, collecting up to ₹4 lakh per applicant for ‘guaranteed visas’ that never materialised. The CEO faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 24 of the Immigration Act. The operation was uncovered when a victim’s spouse approached Palarivattom police with receipts and fake offer letters. A parallel FIR alleges that interview invitation emails were forged using free domains to mimic legitimate Armenian recruiters. Visa scams are on the rise as Middle-East markets tighten work-permit quotas and Europe’s new talent visas lure Indian applicants. The Protector of Emigrants (PoE) office in Kochi said it will intensify audits of unregistered agents and urged job-seekers to verify licence numbers on the eMigrate portal. Corporate mobility teams should alert employees and dependants to use only authorised channels when searching for family relocation employment. Legal experts caution that victims who unknowingly travel on fraudulent paperwork may face deportation and re-entry bans in destination countries.
Source: The Times of India
