How an agency ‘maid’ off with money from homes
How was the scam planned? Live Events Maid vanishes, phones switched off Police launch investigation Who are the accused? Multiple fake agencies allegedly used The
How was the scam planned? Live Events Maid vanishes, phones switched off Police launch investigation Who are the accused? Multiple fake agencies allegedly used The pattern investigators found What Police recovered as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A woman who introduced herself by different names- Jhanvi, Riya, Lata and Simran allegedly helped run a fake domestic help placement racket that cheated families looking for house helps, police said, reports Times of India.The scam came to light after a Delhi family reported losing money to a placement agency that promised to provide verified domestic help. Police have now arrested two people, including the alleged mastermind and the woman who was sent to multiple homes under different identities, the report said.According to investigators, the fraud began when a complainant searched online for domestic help and contacted a placement agency.Soon after, a woman identifying herself as Jhanvi was sent to the family's home on a trial basis.
The agency assured the family that all paperwork, including a formal agreement and police verification, would be completed after certain charges were paid.The complainant paid Rs 20,000 through UPI and another Rs 13,000 in cash, believing the agency was genuine, only to realise that they were duped.The family's suspicions were raised on May 21 when the woman allegedly disappeared from the house without informing anyone. According to the complaint, she went to the washroom and never returned.The family immediately contacted the agency, whose representatives initially promised to send a replacement. However, within a short time, both the agency operators and the maid went incommunicado and their phones were switched off.After receiving the complaint, the Cyber Police Station in Shahdara registered a case and launched an investigation. Officials tracked mobile numbers, analysed IMEI records, followed digital footprints and examined financial transaction trails to identify those behind the alleged fraud. Two people were eventually arrested after the investigation.Police identified the accused as 36-year-old Hitai Mukhiya, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, and 22-year-old Jhanvi Kumari.Investigators claim that Kumari was repeatedly sent to different households while using different names and identities.DCP (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena said, “Trusting the agency’s assurances, the complainant transferred Rs 20,000 through UPI and paid another Rs 13,000 in cash.
The BriefWire