Pune: IT engineer from Hinjewadi loses ₹7 lakh in fake hiring scam
Pune: IT engineer from Hinjewadi loses ₹7 lakh in fake hiring scam
Pune, 1 July, 2026: A 36-year-old software engineer from Hinjewadi was allegedly duped of ₹7 lakh by fraudsters posing as officials of a placement agency, who promised him a better job at an IT company.
According to police, the victim had uploaded his resume on several job portals when he received an email from a placement firm in April last year, offering him a new employment opportunity.
The scammers told him he needed to register with the agency before interviews could be arranged. They then sent him a payment link and asked him to deposit money as part of the recruitment process.
After making the initial payment, the engineer was informed that an interview had been scheduled. However, the accused continued demanding more money under various pretexts, including processing charges and the issuance of an offer letter.
Police said the victim transferred a total of ₹7 lakh between April 2025 and January 2026. Despite repeated payments, he never received the promised job. Whenever he sought updates, the fraudsters allegedly asked for additional payments.
Realising he had been cheated, the engineer approached the police. Following a preliminary inquiry, Hinjewadi Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the cyber fraud.
Police have advised job seekers to verify the credentials of recruitment agencies and avoid making payments for job offers, interviews or offer letters, as genuine employers do not charge candidates during the hiring process.
