Skip to content
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a man accused of running a fake education consultancy that allegedly deceived students with false promises of overseas university admissions and HEC-funded scholarships. Authorities say the suspect used forged documents and misleading claims to collect large sums of money from aspiring students.
According to the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Sialkot, the accused operated Broadway Consultancy, where students were offered admission to the University of Nevada, Reno, along with fake Higher Education Commission (HEC) PhD scholarship opportunities. Investigators revealed that each victim was allegedly charged around $10,000 for the fraudulent services.
During the investigation, the HEC confirmed that the scholarship letters and official documents presented by the suspect were forged and had never been issued by the commission. The fake documents were allegedly designed to appear authentic, making it difficult for students to identify the fraud.
The suspect has been booked under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The raid was conducted by Assistant Director Investigation Muhammad Nouman, ASI Mazhar Shah, and other FIA officials. Authorities have launched further investigations to determine whether additional suspects were involved in the operation.
Read More: Punjab Introduces New B-Form Policy for Class 5 and 8 Board Exams
The FIA has advised students and parents to verify every scholarship, admission offer, and education consultant before making any payments. Officials stressed that genuine HEC scholarships are announced only through the commission’s official channels, and students should avoid relying on unofficial agents or social media advertisements.
Education experts also recommend checking the recognition status of foreign universities and confirming scholarship details directly with the relevant institution. Students should never transfer money based solely on offer letters or verbal assurances without proper verification.
The latest crackdown highlights the FIA’s ongoing efforts to combat education-related fraud, fake scholarships, and human trafficking linked to overseas admissions. Authorities have urged anyone who may have been targeted by similar scams to report the matter immediately so that further legal action can be taken and more victims can be identified.