Mumbai Cyber Crime: Cons Pose As Admission Agents 'Selling' Engineering Seats On Facebook; Cheat 35 Families Of Nearly ₹50 Lakh

In a shocking cybercrime case, a group of engineers allegedly exploited the hopes of parents seeking engineering admissions for their children by posing as admission agents on social media platforms. The fraudulent scheme, targeting families across Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Noida, and Pune, netted the culprits nearly ₹50 lakh.

Police have arrested 10 engineers involved in the operation, which was masterminded by 35-year-old civil engineer Sonu Kumar. The racket operated from Pune since 2024, resurfacing annually after the engineers returned to their homes in Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh during college admission season. The accused posted fraudulent advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, luring victims with promises of admission under management quota.

Parents who responded were asked to provide personal information, after which the fraudsters demanded substantial sums to secure the coveted seats. One Powai couple lost Rs 16.5 lakh following the ruse, only to realize their mistake when they received a suspicious email from a domain other than the institute's official one. The matter came to light when police officers infiltrated the operation by posing as desperate parents.

The suspects, who allegedly studied engineering together and expanded their illicit network with acquaintances from their hometowns, have been linked to at least five other cases across the country. To apprehend the fraudsters, police seized phones, SIM cards, a laptop, debit cards, and cars. Around Rs 24 lakh in funds tied to the group has been frozen, and searches are underway for two additional suspects while investigators probe the group's financial dealings to uncover more victims.