A few weeks ago, police in India uncovered a scam operation in which fraudsters had established a fake bank branch in a village in Chhattisgarh state. The branch included everything from a logo to office furniture and even employed individuals like Jyoti Yadav, who believed she had landed a legitimate job.
Can you tell us about your experience of getting hired at this branch?
“I was thrilled when I got the offer to work as an office assistant at the new bank,” Jyoti Yadav shared. “After four years of job-hunting and dealing with mounting financial pressures, it felt like a dream come true. They told me it was the State Bank of India (SBI)—one of the country’s most reputable banks—so I jumped at the opportunity. They urged me to start immediately, and I did.”
What happened shortly after you started your job?
“Just a week into my new role, everything changed. Police officers and staff from a legitimate SBI branch arrived at the bank, informing us that it was a fake establishment. I was in disbelief. The interview process felt real; they had provided me with an appointment letter and even an identity card, promising a salary of 30,000 rupees (about $357). Along with five others, I thought I had finally found my footing in the workforce.”
How did the authorities respond to this situation?
“One person has been arrested so far, and authorities are on the lookout for at least eight more individuals implicated in this operation. Employment scams are distressingly common in India, especially with so many young people desperate for stable jobs. Just last year, individuals seeking roles with Indian Railways were misled into counting trains for days instead.”
What about the other employees at the fake bank?
“The six employees at the fake bank were from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Some even resorted to illegal bribes to secure their positions,” Jyoti explained.
What was the investigation able to uncover about the motives of the scammers?
“According to a police officer involved in the investigation, the main motive for these fraudsters appeared to be swindling job-seekers out of their money. Many were lured with promises of employment and sent to the fake branch for ‘training.’ After several weeks, they were told they would be appointed to a legitimate SBI branch.”
How did you feel when you realized you had been duped?
“I never imagined that I was falling victim to a scam. I filled out an online application, uploaded my educational certificates, and submitted biometric information—common requirements for many jobs in India. Now, everything feels shattered. I had to scrape together 250,000 rupees as a bribe, a sum that put me under immense strain.”
Another victim, Rohini Sahu, who was also scammed, recounted her experience: “I received an offer as a marketing officer, with an appointment letter stating that I would work at the Raipur SBI branch but had to undergo training there. The whole atmosphere—the letter, the signage, the infrastructure—convinced me it was a legitimate operation. No one could have imagined it wasn’t a genuine bank.”
How did the local villagers react to the establishment of the fake bank?
“Villagers were initially excited about the new bank branch, thinking it would make banking services more accessible. However, when some tried to open accounts, they were told the bank was still setting up servers and that they should return later. For others like Ajay Agarwal, there were hopes of business opportunities through kiosks, under a legitimate SBI scheme.”
What ultimately led to the bank’s downfall?
“Ajay became suspicious when his kiosk application wasn’t approved and decided to ask a nearby SBI branch about the legitimacy of the operation. Soon after, the local police raided the bank, but by then, the alleged ‘manager’ had already fled. The man in custody is reportedly linked to another job scam in the state, but he has not yet made a statement.”
This troubling case highlights the desperation among job seekers in India and the lengths to which some will go to find employment.
