(Image source from: Little India)

Two women were arrested in Kolkata earlier this week for running a fake job racket and cheating hundreds of people by promising them jobs in Canada.

According to police, the accused, Barnali Biswas (37), owner, and Sudipa Saha (29), manager, of a placement agency named 'Link Abroad Communications Centre,' calling themselves as a guaranteed channel to Canada, conned hundreds of people by offering them fake jobs in Canada in exchange for hefty amount.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the duo would assure people jobs in Canada and take immense sums of money as their fees and after receiving the money, they would not follow through the application and blame the applicants of committing mistakes while submitting the documents.

After receiving numerous complaints, the Shakespeare Sarani police started a probe. They approached the agency as job seekers and were asked to pay Rs 4 lakh as fees for processing their application. The police later arrested both.

Related content: 15 Including Indian Origin in Massive Call Center Scam

According to the publication, the police have so far identified over 16 victims who were scammed of almost Rs 40 lakh by the duo.

The accused women have been charged with multiple counts of criminal charges including section 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), the publication said. The women will be in police custody till October 10 before their court hearing could begin.

The police have as well seized several bank accounts and laptops as a part of their probe, the publication said.

-Sowmya Sangam