Job scam warning signs
Fake job offers in India follow a few patterns. Each page below shows one, with a message written the way these scams are written, what the JobCatch scam check says about it, and what to do.
Already paid, or shared an OTP? Call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline, straight away, tell your bank, and report it at cybercrime.gov.in. The sooner it is reported, the better the chance the money can be frozen.
Registration fees
Asked to pay a registration, training, security or joining fee for a job? No genuine employer charges one. How the scam works and what to do if you paid.
Task scams
How the online task scam works — small payouts for likes, ratings or reviews, then a 'prepaid task' deposit you never get back — and what to do if you paid.
OTP and bank details
No recruiter needs your OTP, UPI PIN, CVV or net-banking password. Why fake recruiters ask for them, and what to do if you have already shared one.
Penalty threats
A 'recruiter' threatens a penalty, a blacklist or legal action unless you pay? Companies and job portals do not fine candidates. What to do instead.
WhatsApp-only recruiters
Many job scams move to WhatsApp or Telegram because those accounts are hard to trace. When it is a warning sign, when it is normal, and how to check.
Selected without interview
An offer letter for a job you never interviewed for, or 'guaranteed placement', is a script. Why it is used, and how real hiring works in India.
Pressure to act now
Scam job offers push you to act now so you do not check: limited seats, offers that expire in hours. How to handle pressure and check the offer calmly.
Gmail recruiters
An offer from [email protected] instead of the company's own domain is a warning sign. Small firms do use Gmail, so here is how to check.
Shortened links
A job message with a bit.ly-style short link hides where it goes. How fake job links collect documents and bank details, and how to open a job safely.
Check an offer before you reply
Paste a WhatsApp, SMS or email offer into the scam check. It runs on your phone and sends nothing anywhere.