There is No Free Lunch

  •   Thu, Nov 16 2023
  •   By Wilson Alex Saldanha, Dubai

November 16, 2023

There is famous quote from an America’s greatest con-man Mr. Joseph Weil (also known as "Yellow Kid")

“The desire to get something for nothing has been very costly to many people who have dealt with me and with other con men. But I have found that this is the way it works.”

Mr. Joseph Weil conned many wealthy individuals in America 100 years ago. Joseph Weil’s technique of exploiting people’s greed is still used by many scamsters in India today. One of the most common scam in Mangalorean’s fall victim to is “Work from home” scheme, where people are promised lucrative salaries for just sitting at home and providing feedback. However, sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between legitimate job offers and scams. While some tech companies in Bangalore do offer work from home opportunities, it is important to be cautious and do your research before accepting any such offers

Here are few red flags to watch when you get an email from an employer:

1) Job is too good to be true: A friend of mine, who had recently moved to Bangalore in search of a job, received an invitation for a job that offered an annual salary of Rs. 8 Lakh. When he excitedly showed me the interview invitation letter, I felt a little off. Not that I was earning less than that, but there was something off with that email. Having lived in Bangalore for more than two years, I knew that no fresher was getting more than Rs. 3.5 Lakh per annum.
I cautioned him, and soon my fears came true. They asked him to enroll in a course paying USD 100 as a training fee. Even after that red flag, my friend was ready to give them money. They played on his greed for high salary. At last, he found out their reality.

2) There is little information on the company: Whenever I get an email for job interview, I search the information about it on Google, I usually get some information about it like their address, location and their scope of work. Additionally, I delve into the reviews left by employees on platforms such as Indeed and Glassdoor. It’s not uncommon for fake companies to create bogus websites to deceive unsuspecting job seekers. If my intuition tells me something is amiss, I trust it and proceed with caution. Also sometimes I go to their office directly and enquire about the job interview.

3) No employer will ask your debit card or Credit Card details: This is a common trap that many people fall into. Some may assume that employers require this information to deposit their salary, but trust me, no legitimate employer will ever ask for the debit or credit card details. If it is a legitimate company, you will first have to attend an interview at their office and then receive an offer letter. After that, they will most likely ask you to open a new salary account at a local bank by providing you with a letter stating that you are their employee. However, they will never ask for your debit or credit card details anywhere.

4) The employer communicates poorly: This is funny one. I used to receive numerous calls from individuals offering work-from-home opportunities, but their English was broken. This should be the first red flag. Many companies do hire human resource officers who have a good command of English. If you receive calls like these, ask them many questions and assess their grammar and pronunciation. Additionally, read their emails. If there are many grammatical errors, then it’s a scam.

These are few things I went through during my job hunt. However, there are still more red flags to look out for as scammers are coming up with new ideas every day. Therefore, I advise you to be cautious and read more news, especially from Daijiworld.
By Wilson Alex Saldanha, Dubai
Wilson Alex Saldanha hails from Jeppu parish in Mangaluru. He works as an accountant for a semi-government company in Dubai.he holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from St Aloysius and also a certified management accountant.
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Comment on this article

  • Sandra, Mumbai

    Tue, Nov 21 2023

    Very good article.

  • VIKRAM, MANGALORE

    Thu, Nov 16 2023

    Good one ,Thanks for information .

  • MEHUL, Dubai

    Thu, Nov 16 2023

    Dear Mr Wilson, I Appreciate your efforts on this article. We Expect more from you In the Future. All the very best!!

  • I J S Shet, Mangalore

    Thu, Nov 16 2023

    Great Mr.Saldanha, we see people being taken for a ride due to their foolish greed all the time. It is definitely a matter of understanding and common sense. Helpful article for all to read. Thanks & Regards -ijss.


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