Fraudsters Impersonate NMC Hospital Officials, Use Fake Emails and Payment Demands to Dupe Victim
Mangaluru: In yet another alarming case of cybercrime targeting professionals, a doctor from Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹4.20 lakh to an elaborate online job scam that falsely promised a lucrative position at a reputed hospital in Dubai.
The incident came to light after the victim filed a complaint at Kankanady Town Police Station, revealing how the fraud unfolded between June 6 and June 13.
The scam began with a phone call from a woman identifying herself as Sangeetha, allegedly representing NMC Hospital, Dubai. She informed the doctor about a high-paying job opening and promised to share further details via email.
Soon after, the victim received a detailed email from support@thejobsswitch.com outlining the job profile, salary, and perks. This was followed by another call from a man named Vinay Singh, who requested an upfront registration fee of ₹5,499.
Believing the offer to be genuine, the doctor made the initial payment on June 13. What followed was a series of monetary demands under the guise of profile verification, document processing, licensing, and No Objection Certificates (NOC). Over time, the victim transferred a total of ₹4,20,062 in multiple installments.
However, when the fraudsters asked for an additional ₹2.62 lakh, the doctor became suspicious and consulted friends and colleagues. A background check revealed no such job opening at NMC Hospital, confirming that the offer was fraudulent.
Upon realising the deception, the doctor lodged an official complaint, seeking swift action against those responsible. The police have registered a case and are investigating the use of fake job portals and impersonated emails to target job-seeking medical professionals.
A Pattern of Targeting Doctors
This incident follows a similar scam in Vellore, where another doctor lost over ₹2.23 crore in a part-time job fraud. Authorities had arrested eight individuals in connection with that case. In a separate case, a private hospital owner in Dobbaspet was recently arrested for duping a man of ₹45 lakh by falsely promising a government job.
The rising frequency of such incidents highlights the urgent need for stricter regulation of online job platforms and greater digital awareness among professionals.
Cyber experts urge job seekers to:
- Verify job offers directly with official hospital websites.
- Be cautious of upfront payment requests.
- Check sender email addresses for authenticity.
- Avoid sharing sensitive information without validation.
