93% of Indian job seekers encounter recruitment scams, Indeed survey finds
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More than nine in 10 Indian job seekers have encountered suspicious or fraudulent job offers, while over half struggle to identify genuine recruiters, according to a survey by employment platform Indeed.
The survey, based on responses from 1,161 Indian employees and job seekers, found that 93 per cent had come across suspected recruitment scams, while 51 per cent said they were not confident in distinguishing genuine recruiters from fraudsters.
The findings showed that Gen Z job seekers and professionals with up to two years of work experience were the most vulnerable to recruitment scams, reflecting the challenges faced by early-career candidates in an increasingly digital hiring environment.
According to the survey, 50 per cent of respondents said the ability to verify a recruiter's identity was the strongest indicator of trust, followed by communication through an official company email address.
The survey found that recruitment scams affected confidence more than finances.
Around 31 per cent of respondents said scam encounters had reduced their trust in recruiters and employers, while 19 per cent reported feeling stressed or anxious during their job search. Another 14 per cent said previous scam experiences had caused them to miss genuine job opportunities because they had become more cautious. Only 3 per cent reported financial losses.
Indeed said the findings point to a growing trust deficit in the recruitment process, with candidates becoming increasingly hesitant to engage with recruiters or apply for opportunities they cannot independently verify.
The survey also found that candidates are now assessing an employer's credibility much earlier in the hiring process, often judging the authenticity of a recruiter from the first message or the job advertisement itself.