US Visa Scam: Ludhiana Couple Loses ₹1 Crore

A couple from Sidhwan Bet, Ludhiana, seeking to immigrate to the United States, fell victim to a visa scam, losing ₹1.08 crore to a local travel agent. The agent, Parminder Singh, promised legal immigration services but instead provided fake US visas after taking the couple through multiple countries.

In February of the previous year, Jagroop Singh and his wife Pooja Rani contacted Parminder Singh, who assured them of legitimate immigration arrangements for a fee of ₹95 lakh. They made an initial payment of ₹11.10 lakh and, in March, traveled to Mumbai, accompanied by Parminder. From there, they flew to Jakarta, Indonesia, spending a month before being taken to Malaysia for ten days and then to Singapore by bus.

Throughout this period, Parminder continued to demand additional funds, which Jagroop's father transferred into accounts provided by the agent. After returning to Indonesia, Parminder claimed their US visas had arrived, showing them images that later proved to be fake. By this time, the family had paid a total of ₹1.08 crore. When confronted, Parminder threatened to report them to local authorities.

The couple managed to return to India in July 2024, with their family arranging return tickets. Upon their return, Parminder refused to refund the money and issued further threats, asserting that his obligation was fulfilled by providing the (fraudulent) visa.

Following a complaint by Jagroop's father, Balwant Singh, the Sidhwan Bet police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Parminder Singh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those pertaining to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, as well as under the Punjab Travel Professional (Regulation) Act. Authorities are currently seeking to apprehend the accused.

This incident highlights the risks associated with unverified travel agents and underscores the importance of consulting authorized and reputable immigration consultants when seeking to move abroad.