Uppal resident cheated of 24 lei in foreign fraud

Hyderabad: A hotel management graduate from Uppal, Hyderabad was duped with the lure of an onboard job.

The victim Prem Kumar, 30, was introduced to the scam by his friend Kranthi, who lives in Singapore. Kranthi told her that a man named Veerabadram was offering jobs in the UK. Soon Prem was contacted by another man named Mani Kanta who is based in Hyderabad.

Talking to Deccan Chroniclesaid Prem, “Mani and Veerabadram promised me a job in the UK hospitality industry. They convinced me to accept a Tier-II visa, which allows me to travel within the country and work as a caregiver. They told me I could switch to a job in hospitality once I was in the UK.”

“I trusted them as my friend suggested. To send me abroad, my parents borrowed money from relatives and even sold the house. I paid them 24 lei.”

In June 2023, Prem traveled to the UK, but an agency he was directed to did not offer him a job. “I struggled to survive in a foreign country with no money and no food. They used to cook once every three days and hardly gave me anything to eat. I used to sleep in a corner without proper bedding. The visa only allowed me to work as a carer, so I couldn’t legally work anywhere else. Then I started doing odd jobs illegally on construction sites just to survive.”

Veerabadram harassed him to do household chores. Prem was then offered a place to stay, but he couldn’t depend on them too much. The situation worsened when Veerabadram ignored her calls and messages.

Finally, Prem and his parents decided it was best to go back. He returned to the city in May, borrowing money to book his ticket. He has since lodged a complaint with the Uppal police.