Face2News/New Delhi
Police Station Cyber reportedly busted a fake recruitment scam, operating as the National Rural Development and Recreation Mission (NRDRM) and falsely presenting itself as part of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India. Two individuals, including the scam’s mastermind, have been arrested.
On 22.03.2025, the Ministry of Rural Development filed a complaint regarding the spread of deceptive recruitment advertisements. These fake ads appeared on the websites www.nrdrm.com and www.nrdrmvacany.com and featured images of Hon’ble ministers and senior government officials. The scam involved enticing job seekers and then demanding payment under the guise of registration fees for recruitment. On the basis of the complaint, a case vide FIR No. 7/25, dated 23.03.2025, under section 318(4)/319(2) BNS was registered at PS Cyber, New Delhi District.
INVESTIGATION & DETECTION: Owing to the sensitivity of the matter, a dedicated team comprising of SI Vipin Tyagi, SI Lalit, SI Gulab, HC Devender, HC Ajay and W/Ct. Madhu was constituted under the leadership of Inspr. Harish Chandra, SHO/PS Cyber, New Delhi District. The team functioned under the supervision of Sh. Ratan Lal, ACP/Operations, New Delhi District.
Mr. Devesh Kumar Mahla, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said, the team followed a digital trail, starting with a QR code on the fake websites used to collect registration fees (₹299 and ₹399) from victims. This code directed payments to a Central Bank of India account in Assam. The funds were then moved through multiple accounts and ultimately withdrawn via ATMs. Thereafter, cash withdrawal footage from hundreds of CCTVs were analysed and utilizing technical surveillance, the team tracked the suspect to Laxmi Nagar area of Delhi. Subsequent surveillance established his residence as a rented flat in Shakarpur, Laxmi Nagar.
On 18.05.2025, a raid was conducted and Ikbal Hussain (27 years) was arrested from Laxmi Nagar. On sustained interrogation, he confessed to withdrawing ATM cash for the mastermind of the scam, Rashid Choudhury. Subsequently, another raid in Laxmi Nagar area resulted in the apprehension of Rashid Choudhury, the racket's kingpin and a known cyber-criminal. Despite initial non-cooperation, further questioning revealed that he was operating a well-structured racket dealing in fake online advertisements for government recruitment.
Rashid Choudhary orchestrated the scam by recruiting specialists: web developers for fake sites, operatives for ads, and others for procuring bank accounts and SIM cards. He served as both manager and instructor of the operation. Both arrested individuals resided in separate flats in Laxmi Nagar.
The mobile phones, SIM cards, and bank accounts linked to the scam's perpetrators are being sent to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) for nationwide cross-referencing with similar complaints and ongoing investigations. Furthermore, other fake websites are under analysis to find more victims, and efforts are underway to locate and arrest other individuals involved.
KNOW THE ACCUSED: Rashid Choudhury, son of Abdul Khaleque Choudhury, resident of Hyderabad, Telangana. AND Ikbal Hussain, son of Fakruddin, resident of Karim Ganj, Assam.
MODUS OPERANDI: The accused lured victims with fake government job advertisements posted on counterfeit websites resembling official government portals, and promoted on social media and in newspapers. Upon visiting these sites, victims were prompted to pay registration fees via QR codes. These payments were directed to the accused's bank accounts and then illicitly transferred through mule accounts and ATM withdrawals.
SEIZED ITEMS: 11 mobile phones, 15 sim cards, 15 debit cards, 21 cheque books of accounts, 05 portable Wi-Fi dongles, 01 POS machine, 04 fake stamps, 06 similar fake websites for the purpose of crime.