'What about I-9 verification': US tech workers on Indian techie Soham Parekh's fraud amid mass layoff

The news of Indian techie Soham Parekh working for multiple US-based startups while staying in India triggered a fresh row amid US companies announcing mass layoffs. Microsoft announced its second layoff of 9,000 workers in months, though the company is hiring H-1Bs -- skilled workers from foreign countries. As India and China mostly dominate the foreign hirings in tech, the news of an Indian techie working for several US companies staying in India spread rage among US workers who questioned how the startups did not even verify his location.

How did he get past the I-9 employment eligibility verification process? https://t.co/g00bKUQESX

— U.S. Tech Workers (@USTechWorkers) July 2, 2025

'He lies about his location...even sent a laptop to a US address'

Playground AI founder Suhail Doshi, who exposed Soham Parik,h said Parikh lies about his location. "He lies about his location. We thought we were hiring someone in the US. Even sent a laptop to a US address. Got it back! Allegedly, it was sent to his 'sister'," Suhail wrote.

Soham Parekh is just the tip of the iceberg, just like this Redditor pulling $800k a yr working 5 jobs.

r/overemployed is a ~500k community where people just maniacally discuss this.

There are 1000s of Soham Parekhs we don't know about. pic.twitter.com/UKyH7uqRUf

— Deedy (@deedydas) July 2, 2025

What about Form I-9, SSN?

Form I-9 is a U.S. government form that employers must complete to verify a new employee’s identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.

Social media users questioned how Parekh could bypass several steps of verification that even include the requirement of a Social Security Number which many employers check to confirm work authorization.

He lies about his location. We thought we were hiring someone in the US. Even sent a laptop to a US address. Got it back! Allegedly it was sent to his “sister.”

— Suhail (@Suhail) July 2, 2025

'There’s a lot being said about me right now'

Amid the social media chatter that soham Parekh is only the tip of the iceberg and there are many such Indians robbing US tech workers of their jobs, an X account on the name of Soham Parekh issued a statement. "There’s a lot being said about me right now, and most of you don’t know the full story. If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I love to build," the statement read.

There’s a lot being said about me right now, and most of you don’t know the full story.

If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I love to build.

That’s it. I’ve been isolated, written off, and shut out by nearly everyone I’ve known and every company I’ve worked at.…

— Soham Parekh (@realsohamparekh) July 3, 2025

It' not verified whether the account belongs to him. "I’ve been isolated, written off, and shut out by nearly everyone I’ve known and every company I’ve worked at. But building is the only thing I’ve ever truly known, and it’s what I’ll keep doing. Earlier today, I signed an exclusive founding deal to be founding engineer at one company and one company only. They were the only ones willing to bet on me at this time. The team is cracked, they back misfits, and they’re building something absolutely insane in the video AI space. We’re launching at the end of this month. More details tomorrow in my TBPN interview. I’m pissed. And I’ve got something to prove," the statement added.