Up to ₹4.1 lakh for a German job: how to check an offer first

Candidates in Telangana say they paid between ₹2.82 lakh and ₹4.1 lakh for a job in Germany. Over two years later, they say they have nothing to show for it. The case shows how fake German job offers in India can look real, even when a state agency is involved.

What happened in the TOMCOM case?

TOMCOM is the Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Limited, a company run by the Telangana state government. Its partner that ran the programs was Fairstreet India Pvt Ltd.

Between October 2024 and January 2025, about 70 to 75 candidates from 15 districts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh joined its German programs. Some joined an Ausbildung (paid vocational training that lasts about three years, with classes and work at a company). Others joined a bus driver program.

The promise sounded good:

• A monthly training stipend (pay while you learn) of €950 to €1,150, about ₹1 lakh to ₹1.26 lakh.
• A starting salary of €2,100 to €2,600 after training, about ₹2.3 lakh to ₹2.9 lakh.

Candidates paid ₹2.82 lakh to ₹4.1 lakh in program fees. Exams, insurance and visa costs pushed the total to as much as ₹4.5 lakh per person.

Now they allege a "zero success rate". The Siasat Daily reports that none of the candidates it interviewed could name one German employer who had interviewed them. None had a job placement.

T. Harish Rao, a leader of the BRS party, has asked for a CID investigation (by the state's Criminal Investigation Department) or a judicial investigation. He also wants a full refund, compensation, and a white paper (an official report) showing actual overseas placements. You can read his allegations in Telangana Today. These are allegations, and as of October 2026 the matter is not decided.

Why does this matter if you already live in Germany?

Many of us have a cousin, a neighbour or a friend's younger brother who wants to come here. They often ask us first. You may be the person who stops them from paying.

The people affected were bus drivers, electricians, nurses, and hospitality and logistics workers. Many came from farming families and lower-income homes. The government name made them feel safe.

The German Missions in India say they have warned many times about people who pretend to be someone else and about fake job offers. Indian citizens are often targeted by people who pose as German employers or agents. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also warned in October 2026 about fake online job offers that lead Indians into scams and forced labour (work you cannot refuse or leave) abroad.

How do you spot fake German job offers from India?

Use these checks before you pay or share any document.

1. No one can guarantee a visa or a job. Only German Missions (embassies and consulates) issue visas. Only employers give jobs. An agent who promises both is not telling you the truth.
2. Watch the upfront payment. Real programs ask for money in stages, linked to progress. Asking for ₹2.82 lakh to ₹4.1 lakh at the start is a serious warning sign.
3. Do not pay for a visa appointment. VFS Global (the company that handles German visa appointments in India) books them at no cost. Don't pay anyone who says they can influence or schedule your visa interview.
4. Check the language rule. You can't work as a healthcare professional in Germany without German at B2 level. An Ausbildung generally needs at least B1. B1 and B2 are language levels, and B2 is higher. If an agent says you can skip this, stop and don't pay.
5. Call the employer yourself. Find the company's contact details on its own official website. Don't use the phone number or email in the agent's message. Ask if they really made you an offer.
6. Ask the consulate. The German Consulate in Mumbai says you can contact it to check a suspicious email or job offer. Don't send your passport number or date of birth to anyone who claims to represent the consulate. Don't pay them either.

Save the consulate's official "Beware of Fraud" page.

What would I do first?

I'd ask one simple question: "Which German company will interview me, and can I speak to them?" A real recruiter can answer that quickly. If the answer is vague, or you only hear about fees, stop.

I'd also keep every message, receipt and brochure. If something goes wrong, you'll need that proof.

Knowing the real rules makes a fake promise easier to spot. Read how the Blue Card salary thresholds work, so you know if an offered salary is believable. If you plan to look for work after arriving, see what the Chancenkarte (Germany's points-based job search visa) asks from Indian applicants.

Next step: send this article to the one person in your family who is thinking of paying an agent for Germany. Do it today, before the money moves.