How a fake US study visa agent allegedly duped Laiba of millions

Police investigating the alleged suicide of Laiba Ejaz, a gold medalist student in Islamabad, have uncovered new details about an alleged fraud involving promises of admission to a university in the United States. According to police sources, the suspect, identified as Nauman, allegedly exploited Laiba’s desire to pursue higher education abroad and received large sums of money from her and her family.

Investigators have obtained bank records showing payments made to the suspect. A mobile phone recovered from him has also been sent to a forensic laboratory for examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

According to police sources, Laiba first met Nauman during a job interview. He allegedly offered to help her secure admission to an educational institution abroad and arrange a US study visa. Trusting his claims, she reportedly paid him money on several occasions in the hope of pursuing her studies in the United States.

However, when the promised arrangements failed to materialise, Laiba’s parents had the relevant documents checked. They allegedly discovered that the documents provided by the suspect were fake. The family then demanded the return of their money, but the suspect allegedly began avoiding them.

Police further allege that Nauman used the assistance of female accomplices to deceive the family. According to investigators, he allegedly communicated through a woman identified as Aiza or sent text messages while impersonating a woman to maintain contact and make further demands for money. Police sources also said that Nauman was living in a rented room separately from his family.

Laiba’s father subsequently approached the police, and a case was registered on his complaint under sections 322 and 34, according to the available report. Police have recorded his statement and reopened the sealed first information report (FIR) to advance the investigation.

In his statement, Laiba’s father said his daughter had met Nauman in Islamabad’s Blue Area. He alleged that the suspect introduced himself as a senior official and assured the family that he could send Laiba to the United States on a study visa.

According to the father, the suspect demanded a total of Rs9.3 million for arranging her travel and education in the United States. He said Rs2.1 million was paid to Nauman in cash in Islamabad’s G-10 sector, while another Rs2.9 million was transferred from Laiba’s bank account to the suspect.

The father further alleged that Nauman provided fake receipts claiming that $20,000 had been deposited into an account to produce a bank statement. The alleged arrangement was intended to support the student’s visa process, but the family later discovered discrepancies in the documents.

He also accused a woman named Aiza of being involved in the alleged fraud. According to his statement, she contacted Laiba and demanded money in connection with the proposed study arrangements.

The father said the suspect eventually stopped answering the family’s phone calls. He added that Laiba remained under severe mental stress for five to six days after the alleged fraud came to light.

Police are continuing to examine financial transactions, electronic communications and other evidence to establish the full circumstances of the case and determine the roles of the individuals allegedly involved. The allegations against the suspects remain subject to investigation.