Maharagama visa scam: Woman arrested for Rs.10 million fraud promising overseas jobs

Colombo, April 8 (Daily Mirror) - A woman from Maharagama has been arrested over allegations of defrauding more than Rs 10 Million by promising foreign employment opportunities in countries including Albania and Canada, The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment  (SLBFE) said.

They said the suspect had been operating under the guise of a student visa agency called Global Educare Consultancy, where she reportedly collected large sums of money from individuals across the island by promising overseas job placements. Investigations revealed that the agency functioned without a valid license issued by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.

Acting on multiple complaints, officers from the Bureau’s Special Investigation Unit raided the premises and seized several documents, including alleged employment contracts linked to the fraudulent operation.

The suspect was produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court and remanded until April 9.

In a separate operation, the Bureau also cracked down on another suspected job scam run under a company named ASPA in the Mirigama area, which allegedly collected money from victims by promising jobs in Japan.

Using an undercover officer, investigators were able to apprehend two suspects — a woman from Minuwangoda and a man from Ja-Ela. The suspects were produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate’s Court on April 7, where the woman was remanded until April 21, while the male suspect was granted bail.

Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious of unauthorized agencies and to verify job offers through official channels before making any payments.