Fake website: A case of scamming unemployed youths on the pretext of getting a government job has come to light. Money was being collected from unemployed youth in three states through a fake website. A fake website claiming to be affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Employment is offering thousands of non-existent government jobs in West Bengal, Haryana and Assam.
In fact, India Today has exposed a fake website in the name of ‘Rural Entrepreneurship Development Corporation’, which has used the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the national emblem and the logo of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to boost its credibility.
Details of government programs on a fake website
Guvnigam, a fake website that extorts young people under the pretext of getting a job[.]org lists several so-called government programs, including “Corporate and Employment Centers,” “Business Development Centers,” “Skills Development Programs,” and “Empowerment Education System.” However, the website’s domain registration details reveal that it was registered a few months ago, on June 8, 2024, by a person named “Raj Kumar”.
Big scam in the name of recruitment
Young people seeking employment in many states were receiving tempting offers through fake websites. These promise a salary of Rs 33,500 and 272 vacancies for posts like ‘District Business Development Officer’. Thousands of additional vacancies have also been listed, with a registration fee of Rs 435 for general and OBC applicants and Rs 345 for SC/ST applicants.
In West Bengal, only a 10th class qualification is required for 3,450 vacancies for a salary of Rs 21,500, a salary of Rs 17,500 is promised for 2,750 posts of Rs 15,500 for multitasking staff and a monthly salary of Rs 17,500 is promised for entry of data for 1,365 positions for Es executives. Similarly, the site announces 5,000 positions Vacancies in Haryana with a salary between Rs 15,500 and Rs 33,500. Similar claims of providing fake employment opportunities were also made in Assam.
Cheating young people in the name of fees
On the site’s instructions page, applicants are asked to pay the fee using a QR code and send a screenshot of the payment along with their application, so that youths can be extorted. Although this website had already been declared fake, the content of the website was still being updated. Additionally, to maintain trust in the website, several videos were posted on YouTube detailing the step-by-step process by content creators to apply for fake jobs.
We tell you that this is not the only case of a false website aimed at the unemployed. Other websites, like guvn, registered on September 6, 2023[.]co[.]in and registered guvn on July 11, 2023[.]org is also associated with the same fraudulent operation under the name “Rural Business Development Corporation.” These sites solicit fake applications for similar fake jobs.
