27 duped in visa fraud, DCB probing bank account misuse
The complainant from Odhav stated in the FIR that a Dubai-based agent cheated him and 26 others of Rs 21 lakh after falsely promising to get them work permits for Europe and Canada.
According to the FIR, the complainant and his friends were introduced to the agent by a mutual contact in Oct 2024. "A common friend gave me the agent's mobile number saying he had helped many people get visas earlier. On his assurance, I began dealing with the agent for work permits to Canada and Europe," the complainant stated in the FIR. The agent allegedly took Rs 50,000 per person as an advance and assured them that he would first send them to Dubai to work in his company.
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After working for six to 12 months, he promised to arrange Canadian or European visas, deducting the remaining charges from their Dubai salaries.
The FIR said, "The agent told victims that since their passports had no prior travel stamps, they would need to show high bank balances and financial transactions. The agent promised to deposit money in their accounts and later take it back through withdrawals made by victims."
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The complainant and others allowed their and their family members' bank accounts to be used for this purpose. According to the complaint, "About Rs 4 crore was routed through our accounts and handed over to an angadia firm in Bapunagar and the agent's contact."
The complainant and other victims were later told by Vadodara Cyber Crime police that these were fraudulent funds.
Only a few applicants were briefly sent to Dubai, but no proper employment was arranged.
"They were made to visit different offices for interviews and returned home within weeks," the FIR states, adding that the agent allegedly stopped answering calls after a few months.
"He gave repeated excuses and assured us the money would be returned, but we have received nothing so far," he added.
The FIR also states that the complainant travelled to Dubai in May 2025 to meet the agent, who again avoided repayment. "Following unscrupulous transactions by the agent, Cyber Crime police froze some of our accounts, it damaged our reputation and caused mental distress," the complainant told DCB officers.
Police have launched a probe against the agent, said to hold a golden visa in Dubai since 2021. The FIR includes documents such as job offer letters, bank transaction details, and identity proofs submitted by the complainant.
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