LEGAL SCAM

 

Are You Being Legally Scammed?

Imagine this: You’ve done everything right. You worked hard, played by the rules, and yet—success feels like it’s for sale. Why? Because in the world of education and jobs, merit is often just a disguise for money. Welcome to the legalized scams of admissions and recruitment.

The Education Trap: Is Your Child’s Future for Sale?

Ravi, a middle-class father, dreamed of giving his five-year-old son, Aarav, the best education possible. He found a prestigious school that promised excellence, discipline, and a bright future. The only problem? Getting in was harder than a government exam.

Ravi prepared Aarav for the entrance test, hopeful that his bright little boy would make it. But when the results came, Ravi received a polite rejection letter—followed by a subtle offer: “We regret to inform you that Aarav has not been selected. However, there are alternative options available for parents willing to contribute to the institution's development fund. Please reach out to our office for further details.”

Ravi clenched the letter in his trembling hands, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. His eyes scanned the words over and over, unwilling to believe what he was reading. A rejection, wrapped in flowery words, masking the brutal truth—his son’s future had a price tag. He looked at Aarav, who was still playing with his crayons, blissfully unaware of the cruel world waiting for him outside.

A storm brewed inside Ravi. His son had done everything right, had shown his brilliance in the test, and yet, here they were—discarded like an afterthought. He stormed into the school’s office, gripping the letter, his voice laced with frustration.

“What does this mean? My son performed well. Why is he rejected?” he demanded.

The receptionist, unbothered, simply pushed forward a form. “Sir, there is still a way. Management quota seats are available.”

Ravi scoffed. “Management quota? You mean a bribe. How much?”

“₹5 lakhs,” she said, her tone devoid of any guilt. “It’s a voluntary donation.”

Ravi let out a bitter laugh. “Voluntary? Do I have a choice? You’re not admitting my son based on merit, but on how much money I can throw at you. And you call this education?”

The receptionist only shrugged. “That’s how the system works, sir.”

Ravi walked out, his hands shaking, his heart heavy. He wasn’t just battling a school—he was battling a system that had turned learning into a luxury, where merit was an illusion and money was the real key to success.

Other schools had similar demands, some asking for ₹3 lakhs, others ₹10 lakhs. The worst part? It was all legal. Schools had turned education into a business, preying on desperate parents.

The Job Offer That Wasn’t Real

While Ravi struggled for his son’s education, his neighbor Priya was facing her own nightmare. A fresh MBA graduate, she was eager to start her career. One day, she saw a job posting from a well-known institution, promising a high salary and a bright future. The catch? A small application fee of ₹2,000.

It seemed reasonable—after all, ₹2,000 was nothing compared to a great career. Priya paid the fee, took an online test, and waited. And waited.

Days turned into weeks. The company stopped responding. Their helpline was always busy. Soon, Priya realized she wasn’t alone—lakhs of other job seekers had also paid, only to be met with silence. The company had made lakhs from hopeful applicants and conveniently recruited an internal candidate. Legally, they were safe—they had conducted a test, and the fee was non-refundable. But in reality, it was a scam disguised as a recruitment process.

The System That Feeds on Desperation

One shocking example is how recruitment scams exploit job seekers at an unimaginable scale. Consider this: A company advertises two vacancies and receives one lakh applications, twice a year. Each applicant pays a ₹2,000 non-refundable fee. That’s ₹40 crore collected annually. The interest alone from this amount is enough to pay 10,000 employees a salary of ₹40,000 per month, yet only two candidates actually get hired. The rest? Left with nothing but a lighter wallet and crushed hopes.

Ravi and Priya’s stories may be different, but the exploitation is the same. Schools and recruiters are profiting off people’s desperation, and they’re doing it legally. Here’s how:

1. Fake Meritocracy: Schools use entrance exams as a smokescreen, when in reality, the highest bidder gets the seat. Similarly, companies pretend to conduct hiring exams but are really just collecting fees.
2. Money Over Talent: Whether it’s a school donation or an application fee, the system favors those who can afford to pay, not those who truly deserve the opportunity.
3. No Accountability: Schools call it “voluntary contributions.” Recruiters call it “processing fees.” And because no one questions it, these scams continue to thrive.
4. Certificates and Recommendations Over Skills: The system values degrees, certificates, and references more than actual skills. Even if someone is talented and capable, they may be overlooked simply because they don’t have an expensive certificate from a reputed institution or a strong recommendation from an influential person. This further fuels the business of education and recruitment, making people believe they need to pay more or rely on connections to be considered worthy.

Can We Stop This?

The real power of these scams lies in silence. Parents don’t speak up because they fear losing options for their children. Job seekers don’t protest because they don’t want to be blacklisted. And so, the cycle continues.

But awareness is the first step to change. If we demand transparency—forcing schools to disclose admission criteria and making companies accountable for fake job postings—things can change. Until then, the legalized scams will continue, feeding on our hopes and dreams.

So, the question is—how long will we let this happen?