A job scam is a form of fraud where scammers pose as legitimate employers or recruitment agencies to deceive job seekers for money, personal information, or free labor. These fraudsters often post fake job listings, send fraudulent offer letters, or impersonate well-known companies to appear credible. Once a job seeker shows interest, they may be asked to pay for “training,” “equipment,” or “background checks,” or provide sensitive data like bank details or ID copies, which are later misused.

Job fraud works by exploiting a person’s urgency and desire to secure employment, often tricking them into paying money or sharing sensitive information in exchange for fake job opportunities. Fraudsters post convincing but false job ads, send direct emails, or pose as legitimate recruiters to appear credible. Victims are lured with promises of high salaries, easy work, or overseas positions, only to be asked for “application,” “training,” or “processing” fees. Once paid, the scammers vanish, leaving the victim financially and emotionally distressed. In other cases, scammers steal personal and banking details under the pretext of setting up salary deposits or background checks, leading to identity theft and account fraud.

Decode has reported how fake recruiters are exploiting Naukri.com to scam job seekers by posing as HRs or consultants and demanding fake penalties or fees. Several victims were threatened with legal action or blacklisting if they didn’t pay, losing thousands in the process. While Naukri.com has legal protection as an intermediary, experts told Decode that stronger data protection laws and user awareness are essential to curb such online job frauds.