Fake Patna Metro Job Racket Busted: Over 2,000 Youths Duped After Applying Through Google Search

In a major crackdown on job fraud, Patna Police have exposed a large fake recruitment racket operating in the name of the Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC). The gang, which allegedly cheated thousands of job aspirants over the past two years, was running fake websites and aggressive digital campaigns to trap unemployed youths. Three accused, including the mastermind, have been arrested.

According to police, the fraudsters ensured that their advertisements appeared at the top of Google search results when candidates searched for keywords such as “Patna Metro Jobs”. Lured by these links, aspirants unknowingly applied through fake portals, believing them to be official recruitment pages.

Complaints Led to the Exposure

The scam came to light after multiple complaints were lodged at Jakkanpur police station on December 28 and earlier at Ramkrishna Nagar police station on December 18. Acting on the inputs, Jakkanpur police conducted a raid near Mithapur Bypass Road, where two accused were caught red-handed while conducting fake job interviews.

Fake Website and Digital Trap

ASP (Sadar), Patna, Abhinav Kumar, said that during interrogation, the accused admitted to running a fake website in the name of Patna Metro. They invested heavily in social media promotions and search engine advertisements so that their links appeared prominently online, misleading genuine job seekers.

How the Scam Worked

The gang charged around ₹1,200 as an online registration fee. More than 2,000 candidates from across Bihar applied through the fake portal. Out of them, nearly 700 were shortlisted for the next stage.

In July 2025, the accused even conducted a fake written examination in Patna, followed by interviews. Around 80 candidates were deliberately failed and later offered a so-called “second chance” through paid training programs for posts like data operator, electrician, and fitter. For this, the gang charged between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000 per candidate.

Truth Revealed at Training Centres

After paying the money, when candidates reached the addresses given for training or job postings, they found no offices or officials present. That is when they realized they had been cheated. Police say that so far, financial fraud of nearly ₹8 lakh has been confirmed, though the total amount is expected to rise as the investigation continues.

Who Are the Accused

The arrested mastermind has been identified as Navneet Kumar, a resident of Saharsa district, who previously ran a computer centre and managed the entire fake recruitment network. He has been sent to police remand for further questioning.
Two others—Akhilesh Kumar Chaudhary from Supaul district and Dinesh Kumar Sahu from Nawada district—were also arrested for assisting in conducting fake interviews.

Police Advisory

Police have urged job seekers to verify recruitment notifications only through official government or PSU websites and avoid clicking on sponsored links or social media advertisements promising guaranteed jobs.

The bust has once again highlighted how digital platforms are being misused to exploit unemployed youths, stressing the need for greater awareness and caution while applying for jobs online.