InternLeaks
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Reported8/23/2026

Pay-to-intern schemes

Any internship asking for money—registration, training, security deposit, or refundable fees—even if they promise to return it later.

Red flags

PAYMENT SCAMCERTIFICATE TRAP

Student reports(1)

Anonymous

What happened

Across India, students report internships that demand payment at some stage: registration fees, training charges, security deposits, laptop or kit costs, or 'refundable' confirmation amounts. Scammers often promise reimbursement after the internship ends, but victims rarely get money back. Legitimate employers pay interns or offer free training—they never charge candidates to work. This entry documents the pattern so students can recognize it regardless of company name.

Why it seemed suspicious

Any request for money to join, confirm, or certify an internship is a critical red flag. Refund promises are commonly broken. Real companies do not run pay-to-work models.

Payment requestedCertificate focus