Pune: Fake PMC Job Scams Prompt Civic Body to Launch QR-Coded Appointment Letters
Pune, 27th May 2026: In the wake of multiple fraud cases involving fake job offers in the Pune Municipal Corporation, the civic administration has decided to introduce QR-coded appointment letters for both permanent and contractual recruitments.
The new system, aimed at preventing recruitment-related fraud, will come into effect from June 5, Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajit Nair said.
Under the mechanism, every appointment letter issued by the PMC will carry a unique QR code. Once scanned, candidates will be able to verify details of their appointment directly on the civic body’s official website, including the designation, appointment order and official records.
The move follows recent cases in which unemployed youths were allegedly cheated by fraudsters promising jobs in the PMC using forged appointment letters. Officials said fake documents carrying AI-generated replicas of the PMC logo, signatures of officers and official formats had made it difficult for citizens to distinguish between genuine and fabricated orders.
Investigations have also revealed that large sums of money were allegedly collected in the name of securing Class IV contractual jobs in the civic body.
Apart from QR verification, the administration is also planning to digitally track every stage of the recruitment process to improve transparency and reduce scope for manipulation.
Officials pointed out that regular recruitment for Class IV posts in the PMC has remained suspended since 2014, except for appointments under the Lad-Page Committee recommendations and compassionate grounds. Despite this, bogus recruitment rackets were found to be active.
Nair said the administration would also probe whether any PMC employees were involved in the alleged racket, adding that details of suspects would be shared with the police for further investigation.
