Chennai: Cyber security experts have cautioned college students against a rising wave of online scams offering fake internship opportunities, particularly targeting final-year students seeking mandatory field training.

As part of their curriculum, students are required to undergo a month-long internship at government or private firms. However, several fraudsters have begun impersonating reputed companies online to obtain personal information and extort money.

A group of cyber security students from a Chennai college reported receiving an email from a company named Samkar Software Solutions Sons, claiming they had been selected for an internship with a ₹15,000 stipend. After a video interview, the students were asked to pay ₹2,000 through UPI for a “police clearance certificate.” Upon verification, the offer was found to be fraudulent.

Experts warn that scammers often operate through professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn, creating fake profiles and start-up pages to collect resumes and personal data. Victims are frequently lured into paying money under the guise of document verification or onboarding fees.

“Students should verify the legitimacy of companies before sharing personal details or making payments. Reputed organisations do not demand money for internships or job placements,” cyber security professionals said.

Authorities have urged colleges to educate students about online safety and report such incidents to cybercrime helplines.