Think Before You Apply: How to Spot a Job Scam Disguised as Your Dream Role

In late March, Manjunath S., a content manager from Bengaluru, was excited to receive a call from a recruiter regarding a role he had applied for on Naukri.com. The offer seemed ideal—higher pay and quicker career growth—an opportunity he couldn’t ignore as the sole provider for a family of five.

After clearing three interview rounds, Manjunath was asked to join immediately. He resigned from his current job and marked April 7 as his final working day. But when he reported to the new office on April 10, he was shocked to learn his name wasn’t on the onboarding list. HR told him the position had been put "on hold." His emails and phone calls went unanswered. Rejoining his previous job was not an option due to a mandatory cooling-off period. Today, with a toddler at home, Manjunath finds himself unemployed and dependent on his wife’s income.

In another heartbreaking case, a 27-year-old entrepreneur dealing in electrical poles was lured into what looked like a legitimate side hustle. He was introduced to simple microtasks that offered small returns. But things escalated quickly, and he ended up transferring Rs 57.75 lakh before the scammers disappeared.

These are not isolated incidents. In 2023 alone, job scam calls in India increased by a staggering 84%, targeting the ambitions and vulnerabilities of desperate job seekers—particularly younger demographics.

💼 Common Job Scams and How They Work
Cybersecurity and recruitment experts told Indianexpress.com that scammers are using multiple tactics to exploit job seekers. Here are the most widespread scam types as outlined by Harshvardhan Singh (Future Crime Research Foundation), Vikas Kundu (CloudSEK), and Abhijit Joshi (IDfy):

• Upfront Payment Scams: Victims are asked to pay for training or registration and then abandoned.
• Overseas Job Fraud: Fake agencies promise international jobs for a fee, usually targeting Gulf and European countries.
• Ghost Jobs: Fake listings used to gather sensitive personal and financial data.
• Ponzi-like Task Scams: Microtasks lead to large investments, followed by silence from the scammer.
• Fake Offers: Job confirmations, experience letters, and contracts—all offered for money.
• Work-from-Home Frauds: Victims pay for training or tools and never hear back.
• Bogus Consultancies: Scammers pose as legitimate recruiters, charging for paperwork or devices.
• Social Media Job Traps: Fraudulent roles are circulated on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

👻 Understanding Ghost Jobs
“Ghost jobs” are deceptive listings for positions that don’t actually exist. According to Kundu, these are used by some companies to build candidate pipelines or test the hiring market.

“These are particularly dangerous,” adds Singh. “Victims often spend time perfecting resumes and attending fake interviews, unaware they’re being used. Some are even asked to pay processing fees. The damage isn’t just financial—it’s emotional and deeply demoralizing.”

⚠️ Spot the Red Flags Before It’s Too Late
Experts shared several indicators that could help job seekers identify fraudulent opportunities:

• Unsolicited job messages via WhatsApp or Telegram.
• Requests for upfront payments for training or documents.
• Messages with poor grammar, spelling errors, or sent from unofficial domains.
• High salary promises with vague job descriptions.
• Pressure to respond quickly without proper verification.
• Lack of official contact details or company presence online.

“Scammers are becoming highly sophisticated,” warns Singh. “They create fake LinkedIn profiles, build lookalike company websites, conduct Zoom interviews, and even send forged offer letters.”

In a major 2022 scam, criminals impersonating Indigo Airlines duped dozens of applicants out of Rs 75,000 each by promising fake ground staff roles.

🛡️ Stay Safe While Job Hunting
Even reputed platforms like LinkedIn and Naukri are not immune to scam listings, experts said. Users should remain vigilant and avoid clicking on suspicious external links.

Aditi Jha, LinkedIn India's Head of Legal and Public Policy, recommends verifying the authenticity of job postings. “Look for verification badges on job listings and profiles,” she said. These badges confirm employer affiliation and identity through LinkedIn’s trusted verification system.

🆘 What To Do If You Fall Victim to a Job Scam
If you’ve been duped, here’s what you should immediately do:

• Cease all communication with the scammer.
• Gather and save all evidence—screenshots, messages, emails, transaction receipts.
• Report the incident at cybercrime.gov.in or call the cyber helpline at 1930.
• File an FIR at your nearest police station.
• Notify your bank to freeze or recover lost funds.

📣 Spreading Awareness Is Key
Experts are calling for more awareness programs in schools, colleges, and public spaces. Workshops, campaigns, and digital literacy drives are essential to help job seekers recognize scams before they fall victim.

🔐 The Safe Side: Stay Informed, Stay Secure
As part of our ongoing “The Safe Side” series, we aim to explore the ever-evolving digital threats and arm our readers with tools to protect themselves. In the next edition, we’ll focus on secure job search practices, how to verify listings, and safe browsing tips on platforms like LinkedIn.