Two arrested in Chennai for cheating over 60 people with fake overseas job offers

Image used for representation | Photo Credit: Getty Images Two men have been arrested for allegedly running a fake overseas recruitment agency in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, and cheating more than 60 people of around ₹75 lakh by promising them jobs abroad.The police said Lakshmi Narayanan, 30, a resident of MMDA Colony in Maduravoyal, came across an advertisement on Instagram in May 2025 and contacted Golden Skyways, an overseas recruitment agency operating on Muthumariamman Koil Street in Valasaravakkam.The agency allegedly promised to secure him a job in an European country and told him that he would have to pay ₹5 lakh towards the recruitment process and overseas work permit formalities.Believing the offer, Lakshmi Narayanan paid a total of ₹5 lakh in several instalments from May 13, 2026. The agency subsequently sent him an offer letter and other documents. However, upon verification, he found that the documents were allegedly fake.When he later visited the agency’s office, he found it locked. The mobile phones of those running the agency were switched off, and they had gone into hiding.Following his complaint, the Crime Branch of the Valasaravakkam police station registered a case under cheating-related provisions and launched an investigation.On investigation, the police arrested Velmurugan, 48, of Annai Sathya Street in MGR Nagar, Chennai, and Balan, 46, of Sivalingapuram in K.K. Nagar.The police seized ₹4.75 lakh in cash, a car, three computers and their accessories, a printer, two mobile phones, and a cash-counting machine from them.During interrogation, the police found that Velmurugan, along with his relatives and friends, had allegedly been running the fake recruitment agency and cheated more than 60 people of approximately ₹75 lakh by promising them jobs abroad.Investigators also found that Balan had allegedly received commissions for allowing the use of his bank account and mobile phone number. Money collected from the victims was credited to his bank account and subsequently withdrawn. The accused allegedly used the proceeds to purchase a car, repay loans, and meet their lavish expenses.The two arrested men were produced before a court on Wednesday (October 14) and remanded to judicial custody. The police are searching for other accused who remain absconding in connection with the case. Published - October 15, 2026 03:52 pm IST