Telugu states top overseas job scam complaints, MEA data shows
Job seekers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have filed the highest number of overseas job scam complaints in India, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) data reported by The Times of India on August 3, 2026.
The finding places the two Telugu states at the centre of a problem that has grown steadily in recent years, as fraudulent recruiters target young aspirants with fake offers from Gulf countries and Southeast Asia. Such scams typically involve agents collecting large fees, issuing forged offer letters, and either sending candidates to non-existent jobs or pushing them into illegal work abroad.
Why it matters
For families in the Telugu states, where overseas employment is a common livelihood path, the risks are both financial and personal. Many aspirants borrow heavily to pay agency fees before discovering the job was never real. In several documented cases, victims have been stranded abroad without salaries, passports or valid work permits. The economic impact extends beyond the individual: a single lost deposit can wipe out a household’s savings and years of family borrowing.
What the MEA data shows
The MEA data on complaints received from Indians cheated through fraudulent foreign job offers puts Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at the top among all states, The Times of India reported. The exact number of complaints was not available in the source summary, and the ministry did not issue a separate public statement alongside the report.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Data source | Ministry of External Affairs, as reported by The Times of India |
| States with highest complaints | Telangana and Andhra Pradesh |
| Report date | August 3, 2026 |
| Type of fraud | Overseas job scams / fake foreign job offers |
How these scams usually work
Based on past MEA advisories and police investigations, the pattern is consistent. Agents or consultants promise well-paying jobs in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia or Thailand. They demand registration fees, visa charges and security deposits before the candidate leaves India. Victims often receive offer letters on forged letterheads of real companies. Once abroad, they may find the employer does not exist, the pay is far lower than promised, or they are pushed into work they never agreed to.
Red flags and verification steps
Some warning signs can help candidates spot a fraudulent offer before any money changes hands: demands for payment before an offer letter is verified, interviews conducted only over WhatsApp or Telegram, guaranteed visas and jobs with no written contract, agents who refuse to share company registration details, and offers that promise high salaries for work requiring no qualifications.
Job seekers can verify recruitment agents on the e-Migrate portal of the Ministry of External Affairs, which lists registered recruitment agencies. ECR (emigration check required) passport holders must be recruited only through agents registered with the Protector of Emigrants. Candidates can also confirm offers directly with the company’s official HR department using contact details from the company website, not the number given by the agent.
What remains unclear
The available summary does not specify the number of complaints registered, the period covered by the data, or the destination countries most involved. It also does not say whether the ministry has launched any new awareness campaign in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Complaints are not the same as confirmed fraud cases; the data should be read as a signal of reporting volume rather than a measure of proven scams. Readers should treat The Times of India report as the primary source until the MEA publishes detailed figures.
What job seekers should do next
If you or someone you know has paid money to an agent for a foreign job that never materialised, file a complaint with the local police and the Protector of Emigrants office. Complaints can also be lodged on the MEA’s online portal for Indians stranded or cheated abroad. Keep all payment receipts, bank transfer records, WhatsApp chats and offer letters as evidence. The earlier a complaint is filed, the better the chance of recovering money still held by the agent or recruiting entity.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/telugu-states-account-for-highest-overseas-job-scam-complaints-mea/articleshow/132840629.cms