Greed for free visa and high salary? Foreign job offer can be a big scam, recognize it like this and avoid it

Nowadays, gangs that cheat youth by luring them with good jobs, high salaries and free visas in foreign countries are very active. ‘Congratulations!’ on WhatsApp, Email and Telegram! Messages like ‘You have been selected for a job in Canada/Dubai/UK’ are coming daily. Many youth get trapped in these fake job offers and waste their time, money and career.

The fraudsters first send you attractive job offers – good salary, free tickets, free accommodation. Then they ask you for small fees – in the name of visa processing, document verification, police clearance or medical test. Once the money is sent, it disappears.

Sometimes they also ask for your Aadhaar, PAN or bank details.

Recognize fake offers by these signs

• Very high salary: Offer of salary of Rs 1-2 lakh per month without any experience.
• Asking for immediate response: Haste like ‘send the fees today, visa will be issued tomorrow’.
• Message from stranger number: WhatsApp messages usually from foreign numbers (+1, +44, +971).
• No company website or fake website.
• Asking for money: No real company offering job asks for money first.
• Grammar mistakes: Many mistakes in English in the message.
• Sending links: Asking to click on a link or fill out a form.

What to do if you get such an offer?

Do not click on any link, do not share any of your personal or bank details, take a screenshot and block it immediately. File a complaint on the cyber crime portal – cybercrime.gov.in or call the helpline number 1930. Also inform your bank if any payment has been made.

Advice: Always apply for a job through the company’s official website or LinkedIn. Do not pay any agent for any foreign job. Do take advice from family or an experienced person.

It is good to dream of going abroad, but do not waste your future due to fake offers. Most of the ‘jobs abroad’ messages coming on WhatsApp are fake.