In today's competitive job market, internships offer students a crucial stepping stone into their chosen industries. However, the increasing demand for such opportunities has also given rise to scams preying on unsuspecting students. A recent case involves Bhomi, a Mumbai-based social media influencer, who almost fell victim to a fraudulent internship.
The Promise of a Dream Internship Bhomi shared her unsettling experience in a viral Instagram video, where she detailed how a seemingly promising internship turned out to be a scam. Her journey began when she applied for internships through Internshala, a popular platform for students seeking work experience. After receiving offers from two companies, she chose to work as an "influencer manager" for a corporate solutions company supposedly organizing a global event.
A Suspicious Role and Unusual Demands Initially, the internship appeared legitimate, with a promised stipend of Rs 15,000. However, as Bhomi began her duties, red flags started to emerge. The influencers she was tasked to manage were far from what one would expect; they were merely private Instagram accounts with minimal followings, raising her suspicions.
"I realized something was off when I saw that the influencers had only 150-200 followers," Bhomi recalled. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BHOMI (@bhomi._) Uncovering The Truth Her concerns deepened when a senior colleague informed her that the company was demanding a registration fee from its interns.