ED raids 6 states in massive fake government job scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out coordinated searches at 15 locations across six states as part of a money laundering investigation into a large-scale scam involving forged appointment letters for government jobs, officials said.

The searches, led by the ED’s Patna zonal office, were conducted in Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh , targeting an organised network suspected of duping hundreds of job aspirants by promising them secure government employment.

According to officials, the fraud initially surfaced in connection with Indian Railways , but subsequent investigation revealed that the racket extended far beyond a single department. The scam is now believed to have involved over 40 government organisations , including the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Forest Department, India Post, Income Tax Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Bihar government offices, the Rajasthan Secretariat, and even some High Courts.

Investigators said the gang operated through a well-planned and sophisticated mechanism . Fraudsters created fake email IDs closely resembling official government domains and sent forged appointment and joining letters to unsuspecting candidates who had appeared for competitive examinations or were actively seeking jobs.

To gain credibility and avoid early suspicion, the accused allegedly ensured that some victims received salaries for two to three months , routed through accounts controlled by the syndicate. These individuals were fraudulently shown as having been appointed to posts such as Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, travelling ticket examiners (TTEs), technicians and clerical staff .

In several documented scams of this nature, victims were not only given forged appointment letters but were also kept in limbo long after believing they had secured employment. For instance, in Gujarat, more than 50 aspiring candidates reportedly paid between ₹5 lakh and over ₹1 crore to a gang claiming to secure high-level government positions, only to realize much later that the appointment letters were fake and no legitimate posting ever existed; some attended offices with forged documents before the deception became clear.Similarly, in Odisha, a group of unemployed youths arrived at a court with what they thought were genuine appointment letters and laminated identity cards, only to discover they had been cheated when officials confirmed the paperwork was bogus.These examples reflect how victims across different states were left waiting for joining instructions, unsure of their status, and ultimately cut off from communication when they sought answers.

Officials said the scam primarily targeted young job seekers from middle- and lower-income backgrounds , many of whom paid hefty sums running into several lakhs of rupees in the hope of securing permanent government jobs. The emotional and financial toll on affected families is believed to be significant, with several victims reportedly exhausting savings or taking loans to meet the demands of the fraudsters.

Though the ED has not disclosed the exact number of victims or the total proceeds of crime, investigators believe the scale of the fraud could run into crores of rupees , given its pan-India footprint and multi-department reach.

Searches were carried out in Muzaffarpur and Motihari in Bihar; Kolkata in West Bengal; Ernakulam, Pandalam, Adoor and Kodur in Kerala; Chennai in Tamil Nadu; Rajkot in Gujarat; and Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh . The agency is examining digital devices, bank records, forged documents and communication trails to trace money flows and identify key operatives.

The probe is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) , with officials indicating that further action, including arrests and attachment of properties, may follow based on evidence gathered.

Authorities have once again urged job aspirants to remain cautious and verify recruitment communications strictly through official government portals and recognised recruitment bodies , reiterating that no legitimate government job requires payment for appointment or joining .

The case underscores the growing threat of organised employment fraud networks exploiting desperation for public sector jobs and highlights the need for stronger awareness and verification mechanisms.