Conman dupes job aspirants

• 47 youth conned by a man promising posts in forest dept
• They appeared for a test last year, but did not get through
• They paid around Rs 20 lakh to a man posing as a ranger

Khammam: Crooks and conmen continue to cheat unemployed youth across the state and in the country. A cheat deceived 47 unemployed youth and collected about Rs 20 lakh from them by assuring jobs in Khammam district. The issue came to light on Monday.A The Forest Department, after issuing notification for filling up vacancies, conducted a written test for the posts of guards, beat officer, section officer and watchmen in the district in May last year. The department also filled the vacancies within three months.

According to victims, the cheat somehow got the information about the persons who had appeared for the written test but could not get jobs. He used to introduce himself stating that he was working as ranger in the Forest Department. He said that his name was Vijay and was residing at Pandurangapuram in Khammam, the victims said. He used to visit the residences of unemployed youth in forest uniform and convinced them that they would get jobs if they offer money. By assuring jobs he used to collect Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000.

The money was deposited in the accounts given by him. In some cases, the victims have paid money in the form of demand drafts. In the name of verification of certificates and other documents the crook used to collect money and the issue was dragged to some months. By using fake letterhead of the Forest Department, he even issued appointment orders instructing the candidates to join their duties at Divisional Forest Office on May 20.

Accordingly, some youth � Mahender and others � went to the office of Divisional Forest Officer in the town on Monday.