Fraud Prevention
The Security Deposit Trap: How Fake Job Offers Drain Indian Job Seekers
A recruiter asks for a "refundable" deposit before onboarding. Here is the anatomy of the scam and how to verify an employer in minutes.
Mithun Mohan writes · 1 min read · 19 Oct 2026
Mithun Mohan
Principal Consultant · Plexus Search
Why the deposit scam works
Job seekers under pressure rarely question a formal-looking offer letter. Fraudsters exploit this urgency by demanding a "refundable security deposit", "laptop fee" or "training charge" before the joining date.
The five red flags
- Payment requested before any in-person or verified video interview.
- Offer letters sent from free email domains such as Gmail or Outlook.
- Company CIN or GSTIN missing, or not matching the MCA registry.
- Pressure to pay within 24 hours to "hold the seat".
- Recruiter refuses to share an official landline or office address.
How to verify an employer
Cross-check the company on the MCA21 portal, confirm the domain age through a WHOIS lookup, and call the switchboard number listed on the official website — never the number in the offer letter.
What to do if you already paid
File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or dial 1930 immediately. Preserve chats, payment receipts and the offer letter as evidence.
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