Bombay, Oct. 21: Many jobless people in Bombay have been found living off the jobless.
Their strategy is to float employment agencies offering attractive openings in the oil-rich Sheikhdoms of West Asia.
Several agencies have been exposed by the victims in the last two months. But a majority remain silent sufferers to avoid legal procedures.
The agencies canvass for candidates seeking attractive salaries in the Gulf region and collect advances ranging from Rs. 350 to Rs. 6,000. The applicants are then asked to wait for appointment order and necessary travel documents, including passports and no objection certificates.
When nothing materialises even after months, the victims seek fund from the agencies who usually issue cheques that bounce at the bank counter.
In some cases, the agencies arrange no-objection certificates and send applicants abroad. On landing there, they would find to their utter dismay that the travel documents empowered them to stay in that country only for 48 hours.
The agencies are said to be operating also in remote areas in Kerala through their agents. Remittances to city-based agencies by post from gullible people have been made. Many victims arranged for the advance by pawning their ornaments.
Quite a few even quit their jobs in anticipation of lucrative salaries in the fabulous Sheikhdoms.
In a case reported by the police this month, about 100 persons were collectively duped of over Rs. one lakh. The victims hailed from Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat.
Published – October 22, 2025 04:30 am IST
