Domestic help or caregiver agency asking for a deposit
An agency promises a maid, cook or caregiver for an advance deposit, and nobody arrives.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- You find a maid, cook, nanny or caregiver agency online or on social media, and they promise a verified worker within a day or two.
- They send a worker's photo and ID on chat, and ask for an advance, a registration fee or a "security deposit" before the person travels.
- After payment, the worker never arrives, new charges come up for travel or documents, and then the agency stops answering.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Madam, 24-hour caregiver for your mother available from tomorrow. Police verified. Pay Rs 8,000 registration and first week advance, and she will reach by evening.
Your maid has left by train. Please send Rs 1,500 ticket charge, it will be adjusted in her salary.
Red flags
- Full advance before you meet the worker
- Only a WhatsApp number, no office address
- Photos and IDs sent on chat only
- New charges after the first payment
The one question to ask
Can you meet the worker and visit the agency's office before you pay anything?
Already paid or shared details?
Call 1930 at once: in the first hour the money can often still be frozen before it moves on. Then call your bank on the number printed on your card, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots of every message and payment.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Driver or security guard agencies asking for advance fees
- Patient attendant from a fake hospital-linked agency