A Cautionary Tale for Job Seekers
Most people want to land their hands on a suitable job. But in today’s fast-paced job market, many individuals turn to online job portals to streamline their search for new opportunities. Unfortunately, not all platforms deliver on their promises. In Mid May – June 2024, I became one of the many unsuspecting job seekers duped by Shine.com, losing approximately ₹19,000 in the process. My experience, eerily similar to what Safal Agarwal shared on LinkedIn, highlights a disturbing trend of fraudulent practices by this platform.
My Experience with Shine.com
The scam began when I received a call from Shine.com after uploading my resume on their portal. I was not at all interested in Shine.com paid service but somehow the representative convinced me that their service was excellent. The representative, appearing professional and courteous, pitched me several premium services that allegedly promised exclusive access to job postings, resume building assistance, and guaranteed job interviews. They painted a convincing picture that these services would significantly improve my chances of landing a well-paying job.
I was hesitant at first, but the smooth sales pitch combined with the urgency they projected (“the sooner you sign up, the better your chances”) made me believe this was a legitimate offer. They assured me of full support throughout my job search journey. The total fee I paid one by one came to around ₹19,000, which I reluctantly paid, trusting the Shine.com brand name and their claims of reliability. They again pitched me for paying additional 8000/- so that they could start more premium benefits like showing my resume to top recruiters and make me a preferential candidate. Only to be stopped at my re-questioning that I’ld be paying more than 25000/- for these. Still their boss tried to convince me hard and I denied. Post that, they never gave me any services until I raised my concerns.
However, once the payment was made, things started to change drastically.
- No Proper Follow-Up: After the payment was processed, the communication became sparse. Despite repeated calls and emails, there was little to no follow-up on the services that were promised. The representatives who had once been eager to assist me now seemed disinterested.
- Unfulfilled Promises: The exclusive job offers they mentioned never came through. The so-called resume services were subpar at best, and no interviews were arranged, let alone guaranteed. It became apparent that the services I had paid for were nothing more than an illusion.
- Customer Support Stonewalling: When I tried to contact their customer support for a refund or clarification, I was met with either long delays or vague responses. After weeks of back-and-forth, it became clear that recovering my money was going to be an uphill battle.
- No people to reach-out: There is absolutely no contact to reach out to for getting back your hard earned money. Not to tell you that its something you are reserving for your future as you don’t have a job yet.
- No refunds: The service charges are non-refundable that is beyond me as to what the policies are. Today the world is flexible with genuine refunds and addressing customer concerns promptly, however Shine.com is different.
On the contrary, check out what Naukri.com charges to their customers. The image below is taken from Naurki.com for reference.
A Common Scam
Reading Safal Agarwal’s post about his similar experience was a revelation – it was as if I was reading about my own ordeal. Safal highlighted the same pattern of deception: enticing job seekers with false promises, collecting payment, and then disappearing when it’s time to deliver. His story, and now mine, raises serious concerns about Shine.com’s business practices.
It appears that many job seekers, desperate to find employment, are being lured into these schemes by fake promises of premium services. Once the payment is made, Shine.com seemingly makes no effort to provide real value, and job seekers are left with nothing but frustration and financial loss. I believe that times group need to take cognizance of this situation if they are not aware of these practices and rectify these issues.
The Red Flags of Shine.com Fraud
Based on my experience, here are some warning signs every job seeker should be wary of when dealing with Shine.com or any similar job service platform:
- Pressure to Purchase Premium Services: Be cautious of sales agents pushing you to pay for premium services. Legitimate job portals provide ample free resources and do not need to resort to aggressive sales tactics.
- Upfront Payment Demands: Genuine job search services typically do not demand large sums of money upfront, especially not without proving their worth first. Always be skeptical when a company asks for payment before delivering any service.
- Lack of Transparency: If the representatives can’t clearly explain the services being offered, or if they seem evasive about details, consider it a red flag.
- Unwillingness to Provide References: Legitimate services should be able to provide you with testimonials or success stories from previous clients. If they avoid this or seem reluctant to share proof of their success, reconsider your decision to work with them.
How to Protect Yourself from Job Scams
- Research Before You Pay: Before engaging with any job portal or purchasing services, research the company online. Look for reviews, testimonials, or complaints that could reveal potential scams.
- Check for Verified Job Listings: Ensure that the job listings on any platform are genuine by cross-checking them on other websites or with the companies directly.
- Be Wary of Upfront Costs: A job search should not come with a hefty price tag. While some platforms offer paid services, these should enhance your search, not exploit your desperation.
- Seek Legal Recourse: If you fall victim to fraud, file a complaint with the Consumer Court in India or report the matter to the cybercrime division. While recovery of funds may be difficult, reporting helps build a case against fraudulent platforms.
A Word of Caution
My experience with Shine.com has taught me a valuable lesson: not all job portals are trustworthy, and it is crucial to approach them with caution. While some services may offer legitimate support, others like Shine.com appear to prey on vulnerable job seekers.
If you are in the market for a new job, be vigilant. Do thorough research, consult with others who have used the service, and never rush into paying for a service that promises you the world. Your career and finances are too valuable to risk on companies that do not deliver.
I hope my story serves as a warning for other job seekers: trust your instincts, avoid unnecessary fees, and above all, stay alert when navigating the world of online job portals.
If you’ve had a similar experience, speak up, share your story, and help protect others from falling into the same trap. The more we bring attention to these fraudulent practices, the harder it will be for platforms like Shine.com to continue deceiving job seekers.
Curated Reads
