How to Spot Fake Jobs and Job Scams — and What to Do

Plenty of job offers are genuine. But fraudsters know that people looking for work are hopeful and in a hurry, and they use that. The single most important rule is simple: a real employer pays you — you never pay them.

The most common job scams

"Pay a small fee to confirm your job"

You are told you have been selected — often without an interview — and asked for a registration fee, a security deposit, a "refundable" training fee or money for a uniform, kit or ID card. Once you pay, more charges appear, and the job never does.

Work-from-home "tasks"

You are offered easy money to like videos, rate hotels, review products or do data entry. The first small payments are real, to win your trust. Then you are asked to "invest" or "unlock" higher-paying tasks with your own money. That money is gone.

Fake offer letters and "big company" jobs

A letter arrives with a well-known company's name and a very high salary. The e-mail address is a free one, the company name is slightly different, and you are asked to pay for "verification" or "joining formalities". Genuine companies do not charge for joining.

Overseas jobs that need money first

Visa, medical or "processing" charges paid to an individual or an unregistered agent are a major risk. For jobs abroad, deal only with recruiting agents registered with the Government of India and check their registration yourself.

Requests for OTPs, bank details or remote-access apps

Nobody needs your OTP, UPI PIN or internet-banking password to hire you. Installing a screen-sharing app at someone's request can let them empty your account.

Warning signs

• A salary far above normal for the work, or "no interview, no experience, instant joining".
• Pressure: "only a few seats left", "pay today or lose the job".
• Contact only on WhatsApp or a personal number, with no office address or company website.
• Spelling mistakes, a free e-mail address, or a company name that looks almost — but not quite — like a known brand.
• Being asked to meet at a hotel, a home, or in another city at your own cost before any offer.

How to check a job

1. Look the company up — its website, office address and reviews from people you trust.
2. On Job Samadhan, look for the verified badge: it means the company sent us its registration documents.
3. Keep the conversation inside Job Samadhan until you are sure the employer is genuine.
4. Ask questions. A real employer can tell you the role, the salary, the address and the joining process clearly.

If something feels wrong

• Don't pay, and don't share OTPs or bank details.
• Use Report this job on the job page (or report the chat) and choose "Asks for money / registration fee". Our team reviews reports and removes fake jobs and accounts.
• If you have already lost money, call the national cyber-crime helpline 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in as soon as possible, and tell your bank. Acting quickly gives the best chance of stopping the money.
• Tell friends and family — scams spread through the same groups again and again.

Job Samadhan is free for job seekers and refuses job posts that ask for money. If you see one, please report it — it protects the next person too.