Fake agents leave job seekers in port project all at sea
An article in Hindu Business Line talks about how fake recruitment agents are on the prowl in Kanyakumari district; along with inputs from Kunal Sen and Rituparna Chakraborty.
The international container transhipment port in Enayam is far from ready, but a fake job racket is already thriving. Enayam port officials caution against fraudsters cashing in on ‘PSU job’ mania
Fake recruitment agents are on the prowl in Kanyakumari district with fraudulent promises of jobs in the 27,570-crore Enayam port project, which is still on the drawing board.
Authorities at the VO Chidambaranar Port Trust in Tuticorin, the implementation agency, have cautioned people against falling victims to the racket, which has its roots in a stampeding towards ‘secure’ jobs in public sector units.
There have been similar reports, from Delhi and elsewhere, of fake recruiters luring prospective candidates with the promise of jobs in the private sector — and even in multinationals.
Public cautioned
“We came to know that some agents are collecting bio-data promising jobs in Enayam port,” said a port trust official.
Nor is this an isolated case: virtually everyday, companies and banks put out advertisments cautioning the public against such fraudulence.
All preliminary work related to the establishment of a major commercial port at Enayam is being dealt with by a cell formed with VOC Port Trust employees.
The recruitment of permanent employees will begin only after incorporating a company/Trust; all such recruitments will be made by the port authority based on government guidelines after duly advertising such positions, the official said.
Fake offers galore
Kunal Sen, senior vice-president of TeamLease Services, a recruitment agency, said fake job offers peak in June-August, when companies make campus offers.
Recently, the Delhi Police registered an FIR following a complaint by the Tata group. Police say there are over 50 fake call centres in Delhi-NCR duping job seekers by collecting money with promises of jobs in MNCs.
According to Rituparna Chakraborty, President, the Indian Staffing Federation, fraudsters hoodwink the youth through fake advertisements, emails, and SMSes. They demand upfront payment from candidates as a registration fee, which is a sure-shot indicator of fakery.
Youngsters from small towns fall victim and even give away personal details about themselves, which can be misused, she said.
This article was published in Hindu Business Line.
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