Who wants real marks when a bogus certificate can land you a job with one of the country's leading IT firms? MiD DAY reporter Amit Singh procured a counterfeit marksheet and got the offer letter too

Faking it was never this easy and had never produced such fabulous results. During a covert mission to land a job with the help of fake educational certificates, I found out how professional and well oiled the duplicate degree machinery in the Capital was. And how this industry could be misused by unscrupulous elements, including terrorists, to gain ground in the city.

Fake-off: Amit Singh with a fake statement of marks from Delhi University in his left hand and the job offer letter from the IT firm in his right. pic/Rajeev Tyagi

Time for action

I skimmed through the bylanes of South Delhi's crowded Munirka market and found my way into a tiny shop tucked away in a corner Sonu Cyber Cafe one of the many operators of the Capital's flourishing counterfeit certificate business. I was warmly welcomed by two smartly dressed men in twenties and promised, "whatever I wanted". "No haggling please, it's a risky business," they said before I initiated the conversation.

Within minutes they told me they could give me what I needed to land a job: a provisional certificate of graduation and a Final Year university marksheet. The false scores and formats were discussed and the warnings marked out clearly: "Yeh certificates kisi local corporate company mein job ke liye daudega, lekin aage padhai ya sarkari naukri ke liye istemal mat karnau2026 panga ho sakta hai (The certificates will work when you're trying to find a job in a local corporate firm, but don't use them for higher studies or government openings; you may land in trouble)." I was asked to return a day later for the certificates.

The next afternoon, I arrived at the shop and within minutes became a Khalsa College (evening) passout with an aggregate score of 55 per cent in Commerce. All I had to produce were a forged electricity bill as residential proof and a phony reference.u00a0 The bill: a meager Rs 3,500.

Job hunt

Armed with the counterfeits, I approached a leading South Delhi placement firm to find me a job with a BPO.

The company's experts examined my curriculum vitae and certificates and I passed the test with flying colours.

No attestations asked for, no crosschecks run. Within a few days, I received a call from an executive of the placement firm, asking me to report for a screening test at one of the country's most reputed IT firms with its office at Okhla Phase III. (The name of the IT company is being withheld on request).

Got it!

After a series of language, aptitude and other tests, I was chosen from a list of 70 other candidates. Even the interviewing board at the company did not bother to verify the authenticity of what was conveniently presented before them. All was stamped okay and I was seen off with beatific smiles. A day later, I effortlessly cleared the second round of interview too. My credentials were checked. "Looking forward to your joining on Saturday (August 1). Don't forget the sweets," said one of the call centre trainers.

After two days, I attended the firm's induction session and was handed over the appointment letter with the post of associate customer executive and a salary package of Rs 1,73,500 per annum (including incentives).
BPOs say its 'common'

Easy access: The fake marksheet (above) and the detailed appointment letter (below) Read Next Story 'I want to kill more militants'› Trending Stories Latest Photos Latest Videos Latest Web Stories ADVERTISEMENT Mid-Day Fast ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT