Man Arrested at Airport for Allegedly Cheating Family of ₹46 Lakh With Fake Admission Promises
Lucknow: A family looking for admission to a reputed engineering or medical college allegedly ended up losing ₹46 lakh after being targeted by a fake education consultancy network operating through social media, police said.
The Lucknow cyber crime police have arrested a man identified as Bajpai, who was allegedly part of the group that promised students and parents guaranteed admission in prestigious institutions in exchange for large sums of money.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly presented himself and his associates as education consultants and used fake profiles on social media to attract families searching for college admissions. Once a prospective student or parent made contact, the group allegedly assured them that a seat could be arranged and gradually demanded payments in instalments.
Police said the accused allegedly went a step further to make the scheme appear genuine. Fake admission letters, fee receipts and other fabricated documents were reportedly prepared and handed over to the victims, giving them the impression that the admission process was legitimate.
The family allegedly paid a total of ₹46 lakh, making payments through a combination of online transfers and cash. However, they later realised that the promised admission was not genuine and approached the cyber crime police.
Fake identities and multiple phone numbers allegedly used
Investigators said the accused allegedly relied on multiple mobile numbers and fake identities while communicating with victims. The use of different names and contact details allegedly helped the group hide the identities of those involved and make it difficult for victims to trace them.
Police also suspect that the money collected from victims was moved through several bank accounts and other channels in an attempt to conceal the financial trail.
The case was registered under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 338, 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
Arrest made at Lucknow airport
The investigation gained momentum after police analysed technical evidence and carried out electronic surveillance. According to DCP (Crime) Anil Yadav, the investigation eventually led officers to Bajpai.
A cyber crime team reportedly tracked him down at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, where he was allegedly attempting to leave the city on a flight.
Police said the arrest was based on technical inputs and other evidence gathered during the investigation. During questioning and subsequent identification by the complainant, Bajpai’s alleged role in the fraud reportedly came to light.
Police recover electronic devices and cards
Following the arrest, investigators recovered ₹40,225 in cash, an Apple MacBook Pro, three mobile phones, five debit/ATM cards and two SIM cards from the accused.
The seized electronic devices and documents are now being examined by investigators. Police are looking into the digital records to determine whether the accused and his associates allegedly targeted other students and parents in a similar manner.
Investigators are also working to identify the other people who may have been involved in the alleged network.
How the alleged admission scam worked
According to police, the operation allegedly followed a relatively simple but convincing pattern.
The accused and his associates allegedly created education consultancy profiles on social media and approached or responded to students and parents who were searching for admission to well-known engineering and medical institutions.
After establishing contact, they allegedly offered to arrange a “confirmed” seat and asked the family to make payments in stages.
To build trust, the accused allegedly supplied forged admission-related documents, including letters and fee receipts. These documents reportedly made the process look authentic and encouraged the family to continue making payments.
Once substantial amounts had allegedly been collected, the accused and his associates reportedly became difficult to contact, prompting the family to approach the police.
Investigation continues
The cyber crime police are now examining the recovered phones, laptop, SIM cards and financial records to establish the full extent of the alleged operation.
Investigators are particularly looking into whether the accused operated alone or as part of a larger group and whether other families may have been cheated using the same method.
Police are also expected to trace the movement of the ₹46 lakh allegedly paid by the complainant family and identify the bank accounts and other channels allegedly used to move the money.
The case highlights the growing risk of online education-related fraud, particularly during admission seasons when students and parents are under pressure to secure seats in reputed institutions. Police have advised families to independently verify admission offers, college communications and payment details before transferring large sums of money to private consultants or individuals claiming to guarantee admission.
The investigation remains underway, and further details about the accused’s associates and possible additional victims are expected to emerge as police examine the seized digital evidence.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
