Field guide
How to spot a fake offer letter
A fake offer letter usually arrives with no real interview, from a free or look-alike email address, with unusually high pay, and is followed by a request for money or personal documents.
Warning signs
You were never interviewed, or the 'interview' was a short chat. Real offers follow a hiring process.
The sender's email is Gmail/Yahoo, or a domain that does not match the company's real website.
The pay, joining bonus or perks are far above the market rate for the role.
The letter contains spelling errors, a generic greeting, or a vague role and location.
Right after the letter, you are asked to pay for a kit, laptop, verification or training, or to share bank details and an OTP.
You are told to accept within hours or lose the opportunity.
How to confirm
Find the HR contact on the company's official website and ask them directly. Check that the role appears on the careers page.
A logo and signature prove nothing. Anyone can copy them.
If you've been scammed
- Call 1930 (national cyber crime helpline) immediately if money was lost.
- Report at cybercrime.gov.in and tell your bank at once.