The accused Naseem Banu and Syed Adil arrested by the South Zone Task Force of the Hyderabad police along with Lalaguda police.
| Photo Credit: Arrangement
Two individuals running a fake overseas job racket targeting unsuspecting job-seekers with promises of employment abroad and visas, were arrested by the South Zone Task Force of the Hyderabad police along with Lalaguda police.
The arrested individuals were identified as 40-year-old Naseem Banu from Nacharam, and 23-year-old Syed Adil from Begumpet. Two other accused – Fathima and Rekha, both residents of Hyderabad – remain at large. The police seized nine Indian passports, five visiting visa copies, and two mobile phones were seized from the arrested duo.
According to officials, Naseem Banu had established a consultancy named World Wide Overseas Consultants (WWOC) in Tarnaka, Secunderabad, with the sole goal of duping people. Using social media platforms like Facebook, she advertised attractive offers for jobs and visas to countries such as Singapore, Australia, Russia, and Mauritius. Victims from Hyderabad and Nizamabad were lured with promises of overseas placements and paid sums totalling over ₹35 lakh. They submitted their passports for visa processing, only to be handed fake visas and fabricated job offer letters.
When the victims demanded refunds, Banu reportedly cut all communication, vacated the office premises, and went underground.
Both Naseem Banu and Syed Adil have a prior criminal history, with cases registered against them under the Emigration Act at Lalaguda and Balkonda police stations. The consultancy was earlier operated in Armoor for a brief period in 2024, indicating a pattern of repeat offences. Investigation is underway.
Published – June 20, 2025 05:07 pm IST