Online fraud: Hyderabad cyber cell warned job hunters not to contact HR wings
Hyderabad: Online job scammers are ahead of the police and are neutralising the cops’ awareness drive on job frauds.
In a series of online job frauds reported in the city in the last seven months, criminals cheated candidates by making them agree to the clause, ‘Do not try to communicate with the HR department of the firm as it is a backdoor entry’.
The cyber crime police had been warning job seekers to always cross check job offers directly with the HR departments of the companies concerned. But criminals tell the victims that it is a “backdoor entry” and that if they contact the HR department, their chances of getting the job would end. Police said that in 22 cases people fell into this trap.
Police data says that around 80 per cent of the victims of online job frauds are graduates and B.Tech degree holders. The rest are diploma holders.
“The shocking factor in online job frauds is that most victims are educated. The scammers know where to hit the victims,” said a senior police official.
As the victims are educated the crooks now insert a clause in their first email to stop candidates from checking out the offer.
“In the email I received, there was a sentence marked important. It said that if we contact company officials or any other employees to inquire about the offer, I will never get the job as ‘backdoor entries’ are not legal. I agreed and lost Rs 50,000,” said P. Krishna Kumar, an online job fraud victim.
Cyber crime officials say that online job frauds are the most consistently reported crime in the city. “The crooks spoof emails and make it look like an email from MNCs and offer jobs. The scammer will conduct fake interviews on the phone and send fake offer letters. Meanwhile, the victims will be asked to pay thousands,” said cyber crime inspector Md. Riyazuddin. He said that all candidates must check out job offers with the company especially when they are asked to pay money.
