Personal data of 2.91 crore job seekers leaked on dark web

While the source of the leak is being ascertained on the secret, encrypted networks encompassing dark web, of which dark net is a part, it is suspected that it could emanate from data on job seekers available with employment sites, sources in Maharashtra Cyber Department (MCD) said. While alerting job seekers against submitting their personal particulars, whether those related to their educational qualifications, residential identity proof or bank details online at unverified job sites, the police are also verifying if criminal networks posed as job- givers to get access to such data. Such stolen data can be used to con their owners or could be sold on dark net for illegal purposes, according to sources.

The leaked data feature names, addresses, including details of cities and states, email IDs, phone numbers and educational details, among others, the sources said. “A recent dark web leak has personal details belonging to 29.1million Indian job seekers,” MCD’s Special Inspector General of Police, Yashasvi Yadav, said. “We advise job seekers to always verify whether a job site is legitimate before choosing to respond to vacancies in free classifieds by submitting personal particulars,” he said.

If in doubt, the job seeker should trust his/ her intuition and instinct, he said.

Cyber fraudsters can pose as job-providers and recruiters then direct an applicant to visit a particular site for submission of personal particulars like educational qualification, job experience, identity proof and banking details/credit – debit card details, said another source. “The submitted data can used to cheat their owners or be used to cheat others or commit a crime,” the source said. The source advised people to shun such modified phishing sites and asked them to refrain from giving out sensitive personal information. People can report about con sites to the police on ‘www.reportphishing. in’ and ‘www.cybercrime.gov.in’.

The police had earlier detected several other rackets targeting job seekers. MCD had alerted against hoax messages informing that all jobless matriculates, in the age group of 18 – 40, will get a monthly stipend of Rs 3, 500 via a central scheme. On opening the link in the message, as directed by it, a page emerges informing, ‘STOP—There might be a problem with the requested link.’ The police recommend social media users to not click on an unknown link or download any attachment from unknown link. The police also advised social media users not to install any application from unknown source.

Police advisory on con sites


► Check the authenticity of the job-giver/recruitment site before applying for vacancies

► Job seekers should not pay money or share payment details related to bank account debit/credit cards while applying for job

► Job seekers should try to meet employers in person, instead of only interacting via email, text or calls

► Do not ignore warning signs when you come across a con site; trust your intuition and instinct.

► Report cybercrimes to the nearest police station or on www.cybercrime.gov.in