Internship Scam Alert: Why Paying Fees for Jobs or Offers is a Dangerous Trap

It is a persistent myth that paying a fee secures internships or jobs. On 22 September 2026, the Home Affairs ministry flagged a surge in fake overseas job offers. Similar fee traps are now appearing around campus internships. Scammers exploit both using forged letters and refundable deposit claims.

AICTE’s National Internship Portal updated its terms on 15 September 2026. The page states registration is free. Selection is by the host. Applying guarantees neither internship, stipend, nor employment. “Never charge students any fee for applying, selection or placement.” Ignore off‑portal Google Forms, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) asks, or external certificate payments claiming faster processing.

Myth vs facts: fees, offer letters, certificates, and portal redirects

Paying a fee never increases your chances. Genuine government internships issue offer letters through the portal or official domains. Certificates follow only after verified completion. Redirects to short links or external forms are red flags. Do not share Aadhaar, PAN, or bank details on links sent by recruiters.

How to verify employers and official portals

Check the website address first. Government opportunities sit on.gov.in or the AICTE portal. For overseas jobs, verify the recruiting agent and foreign employer on the eMigrate system. Cross‑check the recruiter’s status and licence validity. If details are missing, treat it as unverified and stop engaging.

Reporting and refund steps: 1930 and the cybercrime portal

Act within minutes. Call 1930 and request a transaction hold. Save the complaint number. Within 24 hours, file details on cybercrime.gov.in and ask your bank for a freeze and chargeback. Attach UPI IDs, screenshots, and chats. Use this line in your report. “I was induced to pay an internship fee; please block funds.”

Checklist for parents and placement cells

Insist that every application, shortlist and offer remains on the official portal. Ban UPI and Google Form requests from recruiters. Verify overseas recruiters on eMigrate. Use this campus notice. “No fees for applications or selection; report any off‑portal payment demand to TPO and 1930 immediately.” Keep evidence and escalate fast.

Your best defence is patience and verification. Treat any fee request as a stop sign, and keep every step on official portals. Save documents, call 1930 fast, and file on cybercrime.gov.in within a day. Share the campus notice today so first-year students avoid costly mistakes.