More than 200 professionals working in the southern city of Bengaluru, India’s IT centre, face losing their jobs after local police uncovered a scam involving fake work experience certificates, reports the Daily Mail.

Police have arrested one person in connection with the scam and a search is currently underway for his accomplices. The ring leader, Jimutesh Sharma, who ran the scam for more than two years, has absconded.

According to police, Mr Sharma ran a fake HR company and targeted working professionals with a minimum experience level of one-to-two years. By issuing them with fake work experience certificates from fictitious companies, he was able to help them secure mid-level jobs that required at least six-to-seven years’ experience. 

A senior police officer warned that the scam could be much bigger than currently known.

Mr Sharma and his accomplices targeted candidates via job boards. They would then approach the jobseekers and, depending on their education background and previous work experience, create fake work experience certificates.

“More than 200 professionals were placed in jobs in top firms using their services,” police said.

Mr Sharma’s attempts to diversify his business operations brought him to the attention of the police. He started offering contract jobs with top multinationals, claiming to be a staffing firm.

He collected more than INR 1.1 million (USD 17,283) from jobseekers and issued them with appointment letters on behalf of major companies. However, when he postponed their start date three jobseekers contacted the police after waiting more than six months to start their new job.