Haridwar Security Guard Faces ₹14-Crore GST Liability After Falling Victim to Fake Job Scam

 

A 32-year-old security guard from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, has found himself in a legal nightmare after falling prey to a fake online job scam that left him saddled with a ₹14-crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) liability for a business he never owned.

Akhilesh Sharma, a resident of Sisyotar Diyara village in Ballia district, came across a Facebook advertisement earlier this year offering a “supervisor” job with a promised salary of ₹25,000 per month. The offer came from a woman identifying herself as Komal Sharma, who asked for his Aadhaar, PAN card, and a passport-size photograph as part of the “joining process.”

“She even sent me an OTP and asked me to share it for verification,” Akhilesh said. “I didn’t imagine something so ordinary could destroy my peace of mind.”

Months later, Sharma received a shocking call from the GST department, informing him that a company named Sharma Enterprises, allegedly registered under his name in Rajasthan, had processed transactions worth ₹28 crore. The department held him responsible for ₹14 crore in unpaid taxes, and a legal notice was subsequently pasted at his home in Ballia.

“I was stunned. I’ve never owned any company — I just work as a guard,” he said.

Alarmed, Sharma returned to his hometown and filed a complaint, urging authorities to investigate the cyber fraud.

According to GST officials, the fraudulent firm registration appears to be part of a wider network using stolen identities to create shell companies for large-scale tax evasion and money laundering. Cybercrime and GST authorities are now working together to trace those behind the racket.

A senior GST officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said such cases have been increasing rapidly. “Scammers are misusing personal data, often collected through fake job offers, to set up bogus businesses. It’s a growing challenge for both citizens and enforcement agencies,” the officer said.

Cyber experts warn that these scams blend identity theft with financial fraud, leaving innocent victims entangled in legal troubles. “People are not just losing money anymore — they’re losing their digital identities,” said a Delhi-based cyber law analyst.

Authorities have urged job seekers to verify employment offers through official company websites and to never share Aadhaar, PAN, or OTPs over phone or social media.

Meanwhile, Akhilesh Sharma continues his battle to prove his innocence and clear his name from a fraud he never knew existed.