Young people & students › Internship, freelance or creator pay
Paid a fee for an internship that was fake
What usually matters in this situation, and the papers to keep ready before you meet an advocate or free legal aid (call 15100).
Make my own list — free, 2 minutesYour situation
- What is it about? I paid a fee for an internship or job
Where you stand
- Be careful Genuine employers do not charge a fee to hire you — this may be a scam; see the job-scam guide.
- Next step A lawyer's notice often gets payment without going to court.
Do these now
- Send a polite written demand with a deadline
Many pay at this stage; it is also needed before a case. Where: Email.
Papers to gather
- Offer letter, contract, or the emails/DMs where pay was agreed
The core of your claim. Where: Email, LinkedIn, Instagram DMs. - Payment proof for the fee and the advert that promised a job
Often a scam — basis for refund or complaint. Where: UPI / bank, website.
What the law says
A promise of payment in an email, offer letter or chat can be enforced as a contract (Indian Contract Act). Unpaid amounts can be demanded by legal notice and recovered through a civil suit or, for some cases, the consumer or labour route. Influencers must disclose paid promotions under ASCI and consumer rules.
General information, not legal advice.
Saboot will also ask
- What do you have in writing?
- How much is owed?
Similar situations
- Internship stipend not paid
- Brand didn’t pay for my Instagram or YouTube collab
- Freelance work done, client vanished
- Job offer withdrawn after I resigned from my old job
Sources
The full guide: Internship stipend, freelance or creator payment not paid, or my job offer was taken back · All situations