Thodupuzha man arrested for duping people on pretext of jobs in UK

THODUPUZHA: The Thodupuzha police on Wednesday arrested the owner of a recruiting agency who went on the run after offering jobs in the UK and extorting five crore rupees from around two hundred people in different parts of the state. Police recorded the arrest of Vannapuram native Joby Jose (28), the owner of Columbus Job and Education in Thodupuzha City.

The institution started functioning in 2022. Through advertisements on social media, Joby extorted crores after wheedling people into believing the job promises such as ‘visas to husband and wife for butcher and caretaker jobs in the UK’. Rs 3 lakh to 12 lakhs was taken from people in return for the job. The candidates filed a complaint with the police after feeling suspicious over the delay in getting the visas.

Meanwhile, it is said that Joby returned the money to a few complainants. But after news spread about the fraud, Joby travelled across the border to Nepal and went into hiding. He was caught while making a return to India through the border.