This is how I debunk spams and what you can learn from it
This blog talk about indemnification of fake interview and get rid of these kind of spams
As an unfortunate consequence of my online presence, I am bombarded with countless spam emails daily. However, amidst the deluge of fraudulent messages, there was one that stood out to me. Its authenticity caught my attention, particularly in how it sought to deceive new graduates like myself with its facade of genuineness.
In my quest for employment opportunities, I have been actively scouring Naukri for potential leads. That's when I stumbled upon One Suite Technologies, a company whose job listing perfectly aligned with my skill set. I applied to the position with high hopes and to my delight, received a response from the company within a mere day, notifying me that I had been shortlisted for an interview.
Identifying Errors
Curiously, the email I received appeared to be from the company itself, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that someone posing as the company had contacted me instead. The email contained instructions for me to handle the subsequent steps of the process, including communication with an HR representative whose name was specified in the message.
Upon receiving this particular email, I found myself slightly perplexed by its formatting. Curiously, the message also featured an "unsubscribe" button, which struck me as rather unusual and perhaps even concerning.
I came across something that caught my attention - the URL of the interview letter. To my surprise, the URL had .com.hrvia.in, a domain that I had never seen before. Although I couldn't be certain, my curiosity was piqued, and I couldn't resist investigating further.
Now, I'm not advocating that anyone else take this risk, but I took the plunge because I wanted to test my abilities to open it safely and manage any potential consequences. However, the truth is, I was also driven by my intense desire to launch a career in the tech industry.
As I accessed the interview letter, I was impressed by how authentic it looked, and the accompanying email emphasized the importance of reading everything carefully. But as I delved into the contents, things began to get confusing, and I realized that something was not quite right. For those of you who are curious, here is what I found.
Summary Of Interview Offer
For those who prefer a shorter version of the letter, here's a quick rundown:
Contained in the letter is proof of the interview, as well as the HR representative's name and contact details. However, the HR representative's LinkedIn profile seems to be out of date, with no concrete evidence of their work history.
Although the company covers all interview-related expenses, a refundable deposit of 2750/- is still required from me to ensure that the company can invest in my attendance.
The deposit can only be paid online through UPI or direct bank transfer, and must be paid before 3:00 PM on May 2nd. The only catch is that I received this email on May 3rd at around 3:30 PM.
Crosschecking
To confirm the validity of the email, I conducted an internet search and discovered a tweet about it.
https://twitter.com/larsentoubro/status/1464104448859394055?s=20
I decided to verify the source of the offer letter by contacting L&T. To my surprise, they confirmed that they were not the ones sending out such letters.
Despite my suspicion that it was spam, I couldn't help but feel curious about what could happen next. I dialed the phone number listed in the attached PDF and was greeted by someone who didn't sound Tamil. They asked me to provide my details, promising to send payment instructions and further instructions after I paid.
I tried to contact them again via text message but only received an automated response.
Conclusion
I concluded that the best course of action was to report the incident as cybercrime. If you've ever faced similar digital issues, you can file a complaint within minutes by clicking here.
Of course, there are plenty of job opportunities out there, but being desperate is not the answer. Instead, putting in the effort to find the right fit and thoroughly investigating any potential job leads is the best approach.