Navi Mumbai: APMC police have booked two men for cheating multiple job seekers by promising them employment opportunities abroad and collecting lakhs of rupees before shutting down their office and fleeing. The accused, identified as Mohammad and Shahid, are now on the run, and police have launched a search operation to apprehend them.

According to the police, the duo had set up an office under the name ‘Star Max Services’ at Ashoka Complex in the MAFCO Market area of APMC a few months ago. They advertised lucrative overseas job opportunities and lured unemployed youths by offering positions such as welders, AC technicians, and drivers. The accused demanded amounts ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,00,000 from each applicant under the pretence of securing them jobs abroad.

To maintain the deception, the accused sent fake visas and job offer letters to the victims via WhatsApp. They instructed the job seekers to visit the ‘Star Max Services’ office at APMC Market on February 24 to collect their passports and travel tickets.

However, when around 25 victims arrived at the location, they found the office shut down. Attempts to contact Mohammad and Shahid failed as their phones were switched off. Upon verifying the visas and offer letters, the victims realized they had been duped with counterfeit documents.

“We have registered the case and are looking for them. We suspect there would be more people scammed by the duo and we urge people to come forward if they were conned by them,” a police officer from APMC police station said.