TL;DR: Students manage money and part-time income independently for the first time. Never pay to receive a job, internship, or scholarship, verify any hiring message through the company's official website, and avoid sharing OTPs or bank details over WhatsApp.
Students manage money and part-time income independently for the first time.
Common Tactics Used
Fake part-time job and data-entry offers on WhatsApp and Telegram promise easy daily pay for tasks like 'liking videos,' then demand an upfront 'registration' fee. Fraudulent scholarship portals and phishing texts about exam results or hostel fee refunds also target this group.
How to Protect Against It
Never pay to receive a job, internship, or scholarship, verify any hiring message through the company's official website, and avoid sharing OTPs or bank details over WhatsApp.
What Family and Friends Can Do
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals, or a new online relationship that stays undisclosed are all worth a calm, judgment-free conversation. The earlier a scam is caught, the more can usually be recovered.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Scams Targeting Elderly Parents in India.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Scams Targeting First-Time Investors in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they specifically targeted?
Students manage money and part-time income independently for the first time.
What tactics do scammers use?
Fake part-time job and data-entry offers on WhatsApp and Telegram promise easy daily pay for tasks like 'liking videos,' then demand an upfront 'registration' fee. Fraudulent scholarship portals and phishing texts about exam results or hostel fee refunds also target this group.
How can they protect themselves?
Never pay to receive a job, internship, or scholarship, verify any hiring message through the company's official website, and avoid sharing OTPs or bank details over WhatsApp.
What should family or friends watch for?
Sudden secrecy about money or new online relationships, unusual withdrawals or wire transfers, and reluctance to discuss a new "opportunity" or contact in detail are all worth a gentle, non-judgmental conversation.
What should I do if I think this has already happened?
Stop all contact and payments immediately, report it to the appropriate authority, and contact the bank or payment provider involved to see what can be recovered.