How to Verify a Remote Job Offer Before Sharing Documents
Check if a work from home job offer is real before you share Aadhaar, PAN or bank details or pay anything: 10 checks, offer-letter maths and where to report.
In this article (8 sections)
To verify a remote job offer, confirm three things before you share documents or pay anything: the company is real (registered and reachable on its official website), the job is real (listed on its careers page or a known portal, with a proper interview), and the person contacting you works there (company email domain, verifiable profile, call-back through the official number). If anyone asks for a fee, a deposit, your OTP or your UPI PIN, stop. Genuine employers never charge candidates.
The 10-point verification checklist
| # | Check | How to do it | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Company exists | Search the name or CIN on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) site; visit the official website | Not found, struck off, or website made recently |
| 2 | Job is listed | Look for the role on the company careers page, LinkedIn, Naukri, Indeed or ncs.gov.in | Only appears in a WhatsApp or Telegram message |
| 3 | Recruiter is real | Email from the company domain; LinkedIn profile with history at that company | Gmail/Yahoo address, new profile, foreign number |
| 4 | Independent call-back | Call the number on the official website and ask HR to confirm | Number on offer letter does not match website |
| 5 | Real selection process | At least one live interview or test relevant to the role | "Selected" without interview |
| 6 | No payment asked | Nothing to pay at any stage | Registration, training, kit, ID card or deposit fee |
| 7 | Offer letter details | Your name, designation, CTC breakup, joining date, reporting manager, signatory | Vague role, typos, no salary breakup |
| 8 | Salary makes sense | Compare with similar roles on known portals | Pay far above market for simple work |
| 9 | Data requests are normal | Documents requested only after the offer, through official HR channels | OTP, UPI PIN, net banking login, card photo |
| 10 | Pressure level | Reasonable time to accept | "Accept in 1 hour or lose the job" |
If even one of checks 6, 9 or 10 fails, treat the offer as fraud regardless of how professional it looks.
How to check the company properly
- MCA records: the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website lets anyone search a company or LLP and see its status (active or struck off), registration date and registered address.
- GST portal: a business invoicing in India usually has a GSTIN; the public search on the GST portal shows its legal name and state.
- Official website and email: scammers often use a look-alike domain (an extra letter, a different ending). Type the company website yourself rather than clicking the link in the message.
- Government lookalikes: fake "government job" or "scheme" websites copy real logos. Our guide to fake government scheme websites shows how to check gov.in domains.
For foreign companies hiring remotely, check the company's own website and registry in its country, and confirm the role is on its official careers page.
Read the offer letter: does the salary add up? (illustrative)
A genuine offer usually shows a CTC breakup that adds up. Suppose the letter offers ₹4,80,000 CTC with basic pay of ₹15,000 a month.
- Employer PF: 12% × ₹15,000 = ₹1,800 a month, or ₹21,600 a year, included in CTC
- Gross salary: ₹4,80,000 − ₹21,600 = ₹4,58,400 a year, or ₹38,200 a month
- Employee PF: 12% × ₹15,000 = ₹1,800 a month
- Professional tax (varies by state; assume ₹200)
- Approximate take-home: ₹38,200 − ₹1,800 − ₹200 = ₹36,200 a month
At this income there is no income tax under the new regime as of October 2026, because of the ₹75,000 standard deduction and the rebate up to ₹12 lakh of taxable income. If a letter lists numbers that do not add up, or skips the breakup entirely, ask HR for it. Our guide on CTC vs gross vs take-home salary explains each line, and the income tax calculator checks the tax.
What documents to share, and when
| Stage | Reasonable to share | Never share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | CV, portfolio, LinkedIn | ID documents, bank details |
| After interview, before offer | Usually nothing more | Payment of any kind |
| After written offer, via official HR portal | PAN, masked Aadhaar, education certificates, previous employer relieving letter, address proof | OTP, UPI PIN, net banking password, card CVV |
| After joining | Bank account number and IFSC for salary, UAN for PF | Your login credentials |
Use a masked Aadhaar (showing only the last four digits), which can be downloaded from UIDAI. When you change jobs, your UAN carries your PF forward; see EPF when changing jobs.
Common fake-offer patterns
- "Selected" message with offer PDF attached for a job you never applied to, followed by a "document verification fee".
- Laptop or kit deposit for a remote role, "refundable after 3 months".
- Training fee for a "certification required by the client".
- Task-based work paid per like or review that soon asks you to deposit money for "prepaid tasks".
- Interview by chat only, often on Telegram, with no voice or video call.
- Overseas remote job asking for visa, "work permit" or "processing" fees.
Questions to ask the recruiter
A genuine recruiter answers these without hesitation. A scammer avoids them or pushes you to pay first.
- What is the full legal name of the company, and which entity will issue my offer and payslips?
- Who will be my reporting manager, and can I speak to them before joining?
- Will I be on the company payroll with PF, or on a contract? Who pays me, and how often?
- Who provides the laptop and software, and what is the return policy?
- What are the working hours, and how is attendance or output tracked?
- Can you send this offer from your official company email address?
Write down the answers and compare them with the offer letter. Mismatched company names, payroll through an unrelated firm you cannot verify, or a refusal to use official email are reasons to stop.
If you already shared documents or paid
- Stop contact and do not pay anything more.
- If money was paid, call 1930 and file at cybercrime.gov.in at once; quick reports help freeze the money. See cyber fraud money recovery.
- Lock your Aadhaar biometrics through the UIDAI website or mAadhaar app.
- Change passwords and UPI PIN if you shared any credentials or installed an app they sent.
- Watch your credit report for loans or cards you did not apply for.
- Report the number and messages on the Chakshu facility of the Sanchar Saathi portal.
Key takeaways
- Verify the company, the job and the recruiter separately before sharing documents.
- Use MCA and GST public searches, the official website and an independent call-back.
- A real offer has an interview, a written letter and a salary breakup that adds up.
- Share PAN and masked Aadhaar only after a verified offer, through official HR channels.
- Any fee, deposit, OTP or UPI PIN request means stop; report fraud on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether a job offer is genuine?
Confirm the company exists on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs records or its official website, check that the role is listed on its careers page, verify the recruiter's company email and LinkedIn profile, and call the company on a number from its official site. A real offer follows interviews and never asks for payment.
Is it safe to send Aadhaar and PAN for a job?
Share them only after you have verified the employer and received a written offer, and only through the company's official HR system or email. Use a masked Aadhaar, and never share OTPs, bank passwords or UPI PIN, which no employer needs.
Can a company ask for a security deposit for a laptop?
Genuine employers either provide equipment and recover it when you leave or ask you to use your own. Asking for a deposit, training fee or registration fee before joining is a strong sign of a scam.
What should I do if I sent documents to a fake recruiter?
Stop all contact, report the number and messages, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 if money was involved. Lock your Aadhaar biometrics on the UIDAI website or app and watch your bank and credit report for loans you did not take.
How do I check a company in India?
Search the company name or CIN on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website to see its registration status and directors. You can also check its GST registration on the GST portal and compare the address with the offer letter.
This article is for general education and is not personalised financial, tax or legal advice. Rates and rules are as of 28 Oct 2026; confirm current terms with your lender, AMC or a qualified adviser.
