I would like to share my recent experience so others can stay cautious.
I was contacted by an HR representative for a Data Analyst role. The interviewer took a short 10-minute interview but did not turn on the camera, which felt unusual. Later, the HR shared two online tests — one for Data Analysis and one for Apache Spark. I passed the Data Analyst test but did not clear the Apache Spark test.
The next day, the HR called me and said that I was “selected” despite not clearing the Spark test. They asked me to submit all my onboarding documents and sent me an offer letter very quickly, without any background verification.
After this, they told me I needed to complete an external Apache Spark certification. Someone from their team contacted me and said the certification would cost ₹24,000. I was asked to make the payment, get an invoice in my name, upload it with the documents, and they said the company would reimburse the amount later. They also claimed that a laptop would be delivered to my home within 30 days after payment.
This raised several red flags:
• The interviewer never turned on the camera.
• No genuine company asks candidates to pay for certifications before joining.
• Offer letters are not issued before proper verification.
• Asking for money during the hiring process is a common sign of a recruitment scam.
I did not fall for this and did not make any payment.
I request New Era Technology to investigate this matter and identify who is misusing their company’s name for fraudulent hiring activities. I am sharing this experience to help protect other candidates from similar scams.
