In today’s competitive job market, internships and entry-level roles are highly sought after. But with opportunity comes risk. Over the past few years, fake internships, pay-to-work schemes, and shady recruiters have quietly increased, and students are often the easiest targets.
Before you send your resume or pay any “registration fee,” it’s worth spending ten minutes verifying the company. That small habit can save you months of stress, money, and disappointment.
1. Understand That Genuine Employers Do Not Charge Candidates
A fundamental principle of ethical recruitment is that applicants are never required to pay to obtain employment.
Any request for the following should be treated as a serious warning sign:
- Registration or application fees
- Mandatory training charges prior to selection
- Security deposits or documentation fees
Legitimate organizations either offer paid internships or clearly state when a role is unpaid for educational purposes. The practice of charging candidates in exchange for employment or certification is strongly associated with fraudulent activity.
2. Examine the Company’s Professional Presence on LinkedIn
LinkedIn serves as a reliable platform for assessing the legitimacy of an organization. Begin by visiting the company’s official page:
https://www.linkedin.com
While job postings are important, equal attention should be given to the following indicators:
- Presence of verified employees associated with the organization
- Active engagement by staff members through posts and interactions
- Regular updates related to projects, achievements, or corporate developments
An organization whose page consists solely of recruitment posts and lacks visible employees or professional activity warrants careful scrutiny.
3. Read Employee Reviews on Glassdoor
Before trusting any offer, search the company on Glassdoor:
https://www.glassdoor.com
Pay attention to:
- Overall rating
- Repeated complaints about payments, certificates, or fake roles
- Reviews mentioning “bond”, “fees”, or “no response after payment”
One bad review can be ignored. Ten similar ones cannot.
4. Visit the Official Website Carefully
A professional company usually has:
- A clean, complete website
- A proper “About Us” section
- Office address and contact details
- Official email IDs (not Gmail or Yahoo)
If the website looks rushed, has broken links, or only talks about hiring, be cautious.
5. Verify Through Government or Startup Portals (India)
If you’re applying in India, you can quickly check whether a company is legally registered.
Use:
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs: https://www.mca.gov.in
- Startup India: https://www.startupindia.gov.in
If the company doesn’t exist in official records, think twice before trusting them.
6. Recognize Common Patterns in Recruitment Fraud
Fraudulent recruitment practices frequently share identifiable characteristics, including:
- Immediate selection without a structured interview process
- Guarantees of placement or certification
- Urgent requests for payment
- Lack of formal offer documentation
Reputable organizations follow structured hiring processes and allow candidates sufficient time to review and evaluate offers.
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