Beware, your dream job may be a scam: Key red flags to watch out for before you apply

In another case, a businessman, 27, dealing in electrical poles, fell prey to what seemed like a harmless side hustle. A message offering part-time tasks for easy money turned into a nightmare. Initially, the tasks were simple, and small payments were promised. But the demands quickly escalated. Convinced he was investing in something real, he ended up transferring Rs 57.75 lakh. Then, messages stopped, and the scammers vanished.

Such scams are on the rise. In 2023 alone, online job scam calls surged by 84 per cent, preying on the hopes, aspirations and desperation of job seekers, especially the young. In this edition of The Safe Side, we break down how these scams work and what you can do to stay safe.

A look at common job scams

Indianexpress.com spoke to cybercrime and recruitment experts to understand, in detail, the different types of job scams and how these are orchestrated. According to Harshvardhan Singh, director, Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF); Vikas Kundu, threat researcher, CloudSEK; and Abhijit Joshi, vice president of products at IDfy, the following are the most widespread job scams in India today:

📌Upfront payment scams: Applicants are asked to pay for registration, training, or background checks and are then ghosted.
📌Overseas job fraud: Fake agencies promise jobs abroad, especially in the Gulf or Europe, in exchange for visa or processing fees.
📌Ghost jobs and fake listings: Roles that don’t exist but are posted to collect personal or financial information.
📌Ponzi-style task scams: Victims are lured with microtasks and small rewards before being tricked into depositing large sums.
📌Fake employer offers: Fraudsters offer job confirmations, experience letters or contracts, all for a fee.
📌Work-from-home cons: Jobs that demand upfront payments for training or equipment.
📌Bogus consultancies: Fake recruiters conduct telephonic interviews and charge for paperwork or devices.
📌Social media job ads: Telegram and Instagram are increasingly used to circulate fraudulent listings.

What are ghost jobs?

“Ghost jobs are listings for roles that don’t actually exist. They’re used by some companies purely to build talent pools or test the market. You spend hours customising your resume and waiting for interviews that never come, only to realise months later that there was no vacancy,” said Kundu.

“Ghost jobs are a particularly insidious scam because they prey on hope,” said Singh. “Scammers use these positions to collect personal information like Aadhaar numbers, PAN details, or even bank credentials. In many cases, they also demand small processing fees, which add up when hundreds fall for the same trap. The biggest damage, beyond the financial loss, is the emotional toll and wasted time, which can be devastating for job seekers who are already under pressure,” he said.

Red flags: How to spot a job scam

Be cautious of job offers that come through WhatsApp or Telegram, especially if you haven’t applied for the role. These messages often use generic greetings instead of addressing you by name and may promise immediate selection without any formal interview process.

📌A major red flag is any request for upfront payments in the name of training, equipment, or paperwork.

📌Scammers may have poor grammar and spelling and contact you via foreign phone numbers or unofficial email addresses like Gmail or Yahoo. They may also pressure you to act quickly.

📌Many of these fake jobs lack a proper online presence, come with vague or no job descriptions despite high salary promises, and do not provide a clear point of contact or escalation channel.

“Scammers are getting more sophisticated,” Singh said. “We’ve seen them clone LinkedIn profiles, build fake websites, conduct Zoom interviews, and issue forged offer letters. One 2022 case involved a gang impersonating Indigo Airlines recruiters and duping dozens of applicants out of Rs 75,000 each, promising ground staff positions that never existed.”

In most cases, scammers have relayed mass messages without revealing their identities through platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. While no job platform is entirely scam-proof, apps like LinkedIn or Naukri do some basic vetting. Still, fake listings can slip through, often luring users to shady external links. “Even listings on trusted sites should be double-checked before you engage,” suggested experts, unanimously.

Aditi Jha, head of legal and public policy at LinkedIn India, shared tips on staying safe when browsing job listings on the platform. “Look for verified information on job postings. A verification badge indicates that details about the company or job poster have been confirmed, whether through their affiliation with an official company page, a verified workplace association, or identity verification via LinkedIn’s partners,” she said.

What to do if you are scammed

📌Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.
📌Collect evidence—screenshots, emails, transaction records.
📌Report the fraud at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
📌File an FIR at your local police station.
📌Notify your bank to block further damage or recover lost funds.

The experts also urged schools, colleges, and public institutions to actively raise awareness and conduct workshops to help job seekers identify and avoid scams.

The Safe Side

As the world evolves, the digital landscape does too, bringing new opportunities—and new risks. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting vulnerabilities to their advantage. In our special feature series, we delve into the latest cybercrime trends and provide practical tips to help you stay informed, secure, and vigilant online.

In the next edition of The Safe Side, we will discuss safe practices while searching for a job, dos and don’ts on LinkedIn, and more.