Man gets job offer on WhatsApp, finds himself linked to Rs 250 crore GST E-way bill fraud

In the last few months, there have been ample reports where people got fake WhatsApp messages promising them job opportunities. In many cases, victims trusted that these messages were legitimate and ended up losing money. In a new case, a man found himself in the middle of a controversy when his personal details were used to carry out an E-Way bill fraud of Rs 250 crore. The man had uploaded his personal documents after receiving a "job offer" on WhatsApp.

What exactly happened

An unemployed young man from Muzaffarnagar has found himself embroiled in a massive fraud involving fraudulent GST e-way billing transactions worth approximately Rs 250 crore. The case came to light when officials from the GST department visited his home to inform him of the fraudulent activities that had been carried out in his name.

According to a report in ANI, Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Barsu village in the Ratanpuri police station area, had recently received a job offer through a WhatsApp message. Desperate for employment, Ashwani followed the instructions and sent his personal documents, including his home electricity bill and his father's Aadhaar card, to the unknown sender. He also paid Rs 1,750 as part of the job application process. However, the job never materialised. Instead, his personal details were used to create a fake company and bank account, which were then exploited in a large-scale e-way billing fraud.

Senior officials revealed that the fraudulent scheme involved generating fake e-way bills worth around Rs 250 crore using Ashwani's identity. E-way bills are typically required for the transport of goods and services under GST regulations. In this case, the fake company and bank account linked to Ashwani's name were used to execute the fraudulent transactions.

What does the police say?

Police Superintendent Aditya Bansal provided further details on the case, saying that the massive sum of money involved has not been credited to any specific account. "Ashwani Kumar was lured with a job offer, and his documents were misused to set up a fake company and bank account. Through these, fraudulent e-way billing worth about Rs 250 crore was generated," said Bansal.

Kumar also spoke about his ordeal, explaining how he was duped. "I received a WhatsApp call offering me a job, and they asked for some documents, including my home's electricity bill and my father's Aadhaar card. They also took Rs 1,750 from me. Now, I am being told that a company is operating in my name, which I have no knowledge of. The GST department informed me about the firm, and a complaint has been lodged with the police. They have recorded the calls and messages I received, but there is no GST number or any related electricity bill," he told ANI.

Superintendent Bansal also mentioned that the GST department is working closely with local authorities to investigate the case further and pursue legal action against those involved. The incident highlights the dangers of sharing personal information with unknown sources and the increasing sophistication of fraud schemes that exploit vulnerable individuals.