Job Offer or Job Fraud? Here’s How to Tell

What It Is

Job fraud involves scammers offering fake employment opportunities, often advertised via WhatsApp, social media, or job portals.

Victims are tricked into paying for “training” or visas. But the secret goal is to steal personal data or money outright.

How the Scam Works

Scammers pose as recruiters or officials from companies and conduct false interviews. They promise high-paying roles, and then demand payment for registration, training, or visa processing, etc.

These offers usually proceed quite quickly, whereas genuine recruitment generally takes a week or two to complete.

In extreme cases, people are lured abroad with fake offers and then forced into cybercrime operations abroad.

Also Read:Deported From India, A Migrant’s Viral Video Became His Proof of Belonging

Watch Out For These Red Flags

• Job offers from organisations you haven’t applied to
• Vague job descriptions promising “too good to be true” salaries
• Upfront payment requests for “training,” “visa processing,” or “job kits”
• Email IDs that don’t seem to carry a legitimate company domain
• Some scammers may even use the logo/branding of legitimate companies to impersonate real recruiters

How To Stay Safe

• Never pay up front for a job. Legitimate employers won’t charge you for offering work. Visa procedures would be as directed by immigration websites, and not company procedures.
• Verify the company’s credibility. Contact through official channels, verify their legitimacy via LinkedIn, and ask within your network.
• Report suspicious offers. Head to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 to report.
• If you’ve received a suspicious job offer via email or message, don’t panic. Send it to BOOM’s Tipline (7700906588) and we’ll verify it for you.