Part-time jobs scam: Bengaluru ED raids Chinese app companies, seizing Rs. 6 crore

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided another Chinese platform promising part-time jobs as part of a campaign against fraudulent Chinese apps and seized Rs. 6 cr. The Karnataka city of Bengaluru served as the app’s headquarters.

At least 12 different places in Bengaluru were the targets of the raids. The software allegedly defrauded young people using the smartphone app “Keepsharer.” The software solicited money from young people while making part-time work promises.

In accordance with section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED carried out the searches and seizures. The money obtained through fraud was transferred from the bank accounts of various businesses with headquarters in Bengaluru, turned into cryptocurrency, and then sent to cryptocurrency exchanges in China. Chinese individuals were in charge of all transactions using phones and WhatsApp groups.

According to an ED statement, the Chinese nationals allegedly implicated in the scam employed many Indian nationals in a variety of roles, including directors, interpreters, and HR managers. An FIR filed in South CEN Police Station, Bengaluru City, served as the foundation for the ED’s money laundering probe.

“Investigation under PMLA revealed that gullible public mostly youth were cheated by some Chinese persons through a mobile App namely “Keepsharer” which promised them to give part time job and collected money from them. These Chinese persons formed companies in India and recruited many Indians as directors, translators (for translating Mandarin to English and vice versa), HR Manager and Telecallers. They obtained the documents of Indian people and opened bank accounts by using their documents. The accused Chinese people developed a mobile app in the name of “Keepsharer” and started its advertisement through WhatsApp and Telegram by offering part-time job opportunities to the youth,” ED said in a statement.

Six of the 92 accused, who were in command of the entire scam, are Chinese and Taiwanese citizens, according to the police chargesheet.