A disturbing incident has come to light where job seekers from Uttar Pradesh were allegedly lured to Russia with promises of lucrative employment, only to be swindled out of their money and left stranded in a foreign land. These individuals were reportedly cheated of ₹4.5 lakh each, and then abandoned without food or shelter.

The victims, seeking better opportunities abroad, were allegedly enticed by fraudulent job offers from a purported Russian company. Nizamuddin, from Badarpur in Delhi, and his associate Premchand are accused of being the masterminds behind this scam. Pramod Chauhan, a 45-year-old mason from Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh, who had previously worked in Saudi Arabia, reconnected with Nizamuddin for overseas job prospects. Trusting Nizamuddin, Chauhan agreed to pay for a job in Russia and even received an agreement and appointment letter on June 30. Inspired by Chauhan's opportunity, his neighbor, Gautam Sahni, also decided to join him.

Investigations revealed that the accused collected ₹50,000 in cash and ₹4.05 lakh through online transfers from the victims. Instead of providing legitimate work permits, the victims were allegedly issued tourist visas for their trip to Russia. On July 1st, the two men were initially sent to Kazakhstan and later transported to Omsk, Russia, where they were abandoned.

Stripped of their money and job prospects, the men faced dire circumstances. "There were no jobs, no accommodation, and they had to survive for days without proper food and shelter," a senior officer reported. The victims were left stranded for days, without any resources, hungry, and thirsty.

Eventually, they managed to contact their families, who sent them money for return tickets. The two men arrived back in India on July 17.

Following a complaint from one of the victims, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has registered a case and is currently investigating the matter. The police aim to uncover more details about the fraudulent scheme and bring those responsible to justice. This incident underscores the significant risks associated with accepting unverified job offers abroad and serves as a cautionary tale for those seeking employment overseas. Individuals should thoroughly verify the authenticity of job offers before making any financial commitments.

This is not an isolated incident, as there have been other reports of Indians being duped with the promise of jobs in Russia, with some even being forced to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. In March 2024, it was reported that a major human trafficking network had been uncovered in India, luring men to the Russian frontline under false pretenses. The victims were promised jobs as "helpers" in the Russian army but were instead sent to fight in Ukraine. Some were also offered admission to "dubious private universities" along with "free discounted visa extensions" to entice them.

In another instance, the Congress party claimed that 14 Indians who went to Russia in search of work were "missing" and urged the government to take up the matter with Moscow and ensure their repatriation. These individuals were part of a larger group of 126 who traveled to Russia, purportedly for work in Singapore, Malaysia, and Italy.

These incidents highlight the importance of vigilance and due diligence when seeking job opportunities abroad. It is crucial to verify the authenticity of job offers, the credibility of recruiters, and the legitimacy of visa processes to avoid falling victim to such scams.