How can I tell if an HR person on WhatsApp is fake?

LiveRec EditorialUpdated

Fake HR on WhatsApp in India: official channels as of 30 Oct 2026. Official links checked on 30 October 2026.

To check an HR contact on WhatsApp or Telegram, ignore the profile photo and the company name they quote. Find the company's HR email or phone on its own website, and ask them whether this person and job exist. Fraudsters copy real names, logos and photos, so the message itself proves nothing.

Signs of a fake HR contact

  • A personal mobile number or a number that changed after you spoke.
  • The company's name is used, but email comes from a free mailbox.
  • Interview only by chat or voice note, with the "HR" refusing a video call.
  • You are pushed to decide quickly or pay a fee.
  • The person asks you to join a group or install an app.

Confirm in four steps

  1. Open the company's website yourself and find its careers or contact page.
  2. Write to the HR or careers email listed there. Include the name, number and job title used.
  3. Ask for an interview on the company's own channel, or a video call from a company email invite.
  4. Wait for confirmation before sharing documents.

Protect yourself

Do not click links in the chat or install apps. Do not share OTPs or screen share. See Aadhaar, PAN and bank details requests.

Report the number

Use Chakshu on the Sanchar Saathi portal or app to report a suspicious call, SMS or WhatsApp message where the sender's number is visible. Chakshu is not for money already lost; for that, see lost money.

FAQ

Can I block and still report? Yes. Save screenshots first.

What if the company cannot confirm the recruiter? Treat it as a fraud and report it.

Reporting a fake HR number on Chakshu, step by step

Sanchar Saathi's Chakshu service is for reporting calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages that may be used for fraud, including fake job offers, where the sender's number is visible. The portal lists these steps:

  1. Open the Sanchar Saathi portal or app.
  2. Go to Citizen Centric Services and choose Chakshu, Report Suspected Fraud Communication.
  3. Choose the medium (call, SMS or WhatsApp) and the category of fraud.
  4. Enter the details. A screenshot is optional.
  5. Verify your mobile number with an OTP and enter your name.
  6. Submit.

After a report, the Department of Telecommunications verifies it and may take action against the sender, such as re-verifying the subscriber, disconnecting the connection or filing complaints. The portal says it does not guarantee action, and that non-genuine reports can lead to action against the reporter. Only report real messages.

What Chakshu does not do

The portal says Chakshu is not a facility for reporting financial fraud or cyber-crime cases. If you have already lost money, call the cyber-crime helpline 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Common mistakes

  • Replying to be polite. The less you say, the less the sender learns about you.
  • Deleting the chat before taking screenshots of the number, profile and messages.
  • Joining the "team group" to "see the work."
  • Believing a message because it names the NCS or a government portal. The NCS warns that some sites and people falsely use its name and logo, and says it charges no fee. Its helpline is 1514.
  • Calling the number back to complain.

Check your own connections too

If your Aadhaar was shared with a fake recruiter, check the Sanchar Saathi TAFCOP service for mobile connections in your name. The portal explains how to report numbers you did not take.

More questions people ask

Should I block the number before or after reporting?

Report and screenshot first, then block.

Can I report from a different phone?

Chakshu verifies the reporter's mobile number by OTP, so use the number you want associated with the report.

What if the company says it never contacted me?

That confirms the contact was fake. Report it, and keep the company's reply.

Sources

  • Sanchar Saathi, Chakshu (Report Suspected Fraud Communication): https://sancharsaathi.gov.in (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
  • National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and helpline 1930, as named on Sanchar Saathi: https://cybercrime.gov.in (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
  • Sanchar Saathi, Chakshu and TAFCOP: https://sancharsaathi.gov.in (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • National Career Service, home page and FAQ: https://www.ncs.gov.in (accessed 31 October 2026)

Next step: How to report.

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.