A big work-from-home job fraud has come to light in Bengaluru and its outskirts, where hundreds of people were lured with promises of easy income through agarbatti and paper plate packing work. The fraudsters received deposits from unemployed youth and people looking for job opportunities at home, and they were promised monthly payments of a few dollars in return.
Kalikamba Enterprises is the name of the racket according to the complaint. The accused told prospective workers that they could earn a higher salary by depositing a larger amount of money with the company.
One of the most attractive offers was a ₹1 lakh deposit in exchange for a promised monthly salary of ₹27,000. It's the promise of a regular income from home that got people to give up huge amounts of money.
The case has affected people who were looking for flexible work without having to leave the office. The alleged operators had portrayed the job as a simple packing job involving agarbatti and paper plates, and so the offer was especially attractive to job-seekers, homemakers and unemployed youth.
How The Purported Job Scam Worked
The alleged fraudsters used the promise of home-based employment to attract potential victims, the report added. People were told to pay a security or work-related deposit before receiving the packing materials and starting the job.
The amount deposited was linked to the salary promised to the workers, according to the report. People who deposited large sums were offered higher monthly wages.
The ₹1 lakh deposit and ₹27,000 monthly salary promise were one of the main attractions used to convince potential victims. The alleged operators were said to have been unable to provide jobs and income to numerous people after receiving money from them.
According to reports, several people were recruited to approach potential workers to obtain money from them and recruit them to hire them.
Three People Named as Key Accused
Bhoomishetty, Kiran Kumar and Aarti have been identified as the key accused in connection with the alleged fraud, reported TV9 Kannada. The business network, or Kalikamba Enterprises, was allegedly established or operated by those people who collected deposits from prospective workers.
The police are investigating the allegations. The exact amount collected from victims and the total number of people affected will be clearer as the investigation is conducted.
Cases Registered in Multiple Police Stations
Police cases have been registered in Doddaballapur, Chikkajala and other police stations in connection with the alleged racket. Investigators are mulling complaints from people who say they were persuaded to pay money after being promised packing work and regular income.
The investigation will be about how the network operates, how victims were contacted, where the money was collected and who else was involved in the operation.
And more than ever now, the number of fraudulent jobs targeting people looking for work from home is on the rise.
Police Warn Job Seekers
Police have advised people not to make decisions about whether to pay money or not in exchange for work. Job seekers are especially susceptible and can be put in a position of being sold on high and guaranteed wages for simple work.
People should verify the identity and legitimacy of a company before paying, if an employer demands a large deposit, registration fee, security amount or advance payment before hiring somebody, they say.
The Bengaluru-area case is a warning to people looking for jobs at home. Even big upfront deposits and guaranteed salaries should be secured before money or personal information gets handed over to them.
The police are still investigating the job scam at Kalikamba Enterprises and have been working to find out the full extent of the fraud.
