Updated On: 08 June, 2024 06:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva Agashe
External Affairs Ministry issues advisory warning students against trusting dubious agents, as flurry of cases stack up at city police stations

(From left) The fraudsters Vivek Kumar, Archana Gautam, Rahul Gautam
An international scam targeting medical students has recently hit India. Scammers have lured many students with promises of guaranteed seats in Spanish medical institutes, without requiring valid documents or entrance exams. They leave no room for doubt. Their professional approach, from conducting Google meets to handling all the paperwork, has no gaps. Students realise they’ve been cheated only after reaching the foreign land. Many students are still stranded in Spain,” said an official from the Dongri police on condition of anonymity.
The scammers allegedly run an illegal agency known as “The Internationally,” which operates on Instagram without a registered office. “Several reels are posted on their page to gain the trust of victims,” said a police officer. The Dongri police identified the agency’s leaders as Archana Gautam, Rahul Gautam, and Vivek Kumar. While Archana Gautam has been arrested in Delhi, the other two remain at large. The police are actively investigating the matter and have booked the trio under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy and cheating.