Unemployed Man Duped in Rs 250 Crore GST Fraud After Falling for Job Scam

Introduction

Ashwani Kumar, a young man from Barsu village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, was struggling to find employment when he received what seemed to be a lifeline - a job offer through a WhatsApp call. However, this opportunity turned out to be the beginning of a nightmare, leading to a GST scam worth Rs 250 crore being run in his name without his knowledge.

The Scam Unfolds

A few days ago, Kumar was contacted by someone posing as a recruiter who promised him a job. To secure the position, Kumar was asked to provide several personal documents, including his Aadhaar card and an electricity bill. The fraudsters further asked him to transfer ₹1,750 as a processing fee, which he did in hopes of securing employment.

• GST Department's Discovery: Earlier this week, Kumar was shocked when a team from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department arrived at his home, informing him that a company had been registered in his name and had issued fake e-way bills worth ₹250 crore. These bills, meant to be proof of delivering goods or services, were being used to evade taxes on a massive scale.

• Kumar’s Ordeal: "I had no idea what was happening. I don't own any company and have never seen such large sums of money," said a flabbergasted Kumar. Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, the GST team suspected fraud and immediately contacted the local police.

Police Investigation

Muzaffarnagar (Rural) Superintendent of Police, Aditya Bansal, confirmed that Kumar had been duped by the scammers. "No money has been deposited in his account. It appears that Mr. Kumar was conned after being promised a job, and an e-way billing fraud has been carried out in his name. We are coordinating with the GST department for further investigation," Bansal said.

Conclusion

This incident highlights the dangers of identity theft and the growing sophistication of fraud schemes in India. Authorities are urging the public to be cautious when sharing personal information online, especially in response to unsolicited job offers. As investigations continue, the GST department and police are working to bring the perpetrators of this massive scam to justice.