She trusted her neighbour; a colleague at GT Hospital; who swore his cousin had powerful contacts at Mantralaya. Five years later, she found out she wasn’t alone. Six other families were duped too. Total loss: ₹68.5 lakh. The scam started in 2014. Excuses? Admin delays. Then the pandemic. The police are now hunting two men. Here’s the scary part: these frauds don’t just target poor families. They prey on people with dignity, savings, and trust; the kind built over years of service. If you’re paying someone for a government job, stop. No one can ‘arrange’ appointments. No relative at Mantralaya can bypass exams. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. And if you’ve already paid; file a complaint. Fast. Your money may still be traceable. Scams like this thrive in silence. Break it.