How to spot a fake job offer: 10 warning signs

Fake job offers target freshers and anyone in a hurry to get hired. The scammer's goal is usually money, or your personal documents. They often copy a real company's name and logo, so a familiar brand does not prove an offer is real. Learn these signs before you reply.

Ten warning signs

1. They ask you to pay. A genuine employer does not charge for registration, training, a laptop, a uniform, a security deposit or "verification". This is the biggest red flag. Some scammers say the money will be refunded with your first salary; it never is.
2. The offer came out of nowhere. You never applied, but you got an offer or a "selected" message.
3. The interview is only on chat. Messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, with no video or voice interview and no named interviewer.
4. The salary is too good. Very high pay for little work, no experience needed, or "earn from home in 2 hours".
5. The email is from a free address such as Gmail or Yahoo, or from a domain that does not match the company's website.
6. The website is new, thin or copied. No real address, no team, no job pages, or a site made last month.
7. They rush you. "Pay today or lose the seat" is pressure, not hiring.
8. They ask for sensitive documents early, such as Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details or OTPs, before any real offer letter. Never share an OTP with anyone.
9. The offer letter is odd. Spelling mistakes, no clear address or signatory, or a company name that does not match the sender.
10. A task or "investment" is involved. Liking videos, rating products, or paying small amounts to earn more is a common scam pattern. It often starts with a small payout to gain your trust, then asks for larger deposits.

Common scam types

• Registration or training fee scam: you are "selected" but must pay for a kit, training or a background check.
• Task scam: you are paid small amounts for easy online tasks, then asked to deposit money to unlock bigger earnings.
• Fake recruiter: someone pretends to be from a well-known company and asks for documents or fees.
• Overseas job scam: a high-paying job abroad where you pay an agent for a visa or ticket first. Check agents against the government's list of registered recruitment agents before paying anything.
• Cheque or equipment scam: you are asked to buy equipment and will be reimbursed, but the payment never comes.

Do these checks

• Search the company name with the word "scam" or "reviews".
• Find the company's official website yourself, not through the link you were sent, and look for the same job on its careers page.
• Run it through our company check. It looks at public records, website age and certificate, and whether the recruiter's email matches the company.
• Confirm that the company exists in official records, such as the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website.
• Call the company's official phone number (from its own website) and ask whether the recruiter works there.

If you have already paid or shared details

• Stop all contact and do not send more money.
• Call your bank right away and ask it to block the transaction or card.
• In India, report cyber fraud on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call the helpline 1930, as soon as possible. Speed matters, because money can sometimes be frozen if you report quickly.
• Keep screenshots, chats, receipts and phone numbers as evidence.
• If you shared your ID documents, watch your accounts and consider telling your bank and mobile provider.

Common questions

Can a real company ask for a refundable deposit? Genuine employers do not take money from candidates to give a job. Treat any such request as a warning.

Is it safe to share my resume? Resumes contain your phone and email, so share them only with companies you have checked. Do not put your Aadhaar or bank details on a resume.

Remember: a real job never needs you to pay to get it. For more on checking an employer, read our guide on how to check if a company is real.