Maharashtra's state cyber police have issued a warning about phishing emails falsely offering paid internships with the Indian Army, after a message surfaced claiming the recipient had been selected for a free internship carrying a monthly stipend of ₹75,000.
The Fake Email Promising ₹75,000 a Month
The fraudulent email presented the offer as a special opportunity and urged the recipient to click an "apply" link. According to cyber police, clicking such links can expose confidential information, which could then potentially be used to siphon money directly from bank accounts.
The message claimed the Indian Army was hiring interns and told the recipient that this opportunity had been specially selected for them, promising a stipend of ₹75,000 per month with no prior experience required. When verified with Indian Army and defence officials in New Delhi and Mumbai, the email was confirmed to be a phishing scam.
Officials clarified that applications for the genuine Indian Army Internship Programme are accepted only through the AICTE National Internship Portal, not through unsolicited emails. This warning comes amid growing concerns that fraudulent emails, fake websites, and malicious links continue to be used to extract sensitive information from unsuspecting recipients.
The Real Internship Program: What It Actually Offers
Defence officials explained that the genuine Indian Army Internship Programme 2026-27 is a 75-day paid internship allowing students and young professionals to work on defence technology and strategic projects under the mentorship of military experts.
Selected candidates can indeed receive a stipend of up to ₹75,000, but with important caveats the fake email conveniently left out. The amount is disbursed only after successful completion of the internship, and is subject to maintaining at least 75% attendance throughout the program. Officials also stressed that the program is intended strictly for training and skill development, and does not guarantee permanent employment or placement in the Indian Army — a detail that fraudulent offers promising guaranteed opportunities often omit entirely.
A defence official confirmed that the official internship is merit-based and completely free of cost. Officials in Mumbai and New Delhi noted they hadn't received any formal complaints so far, and only learned about the scam email after it was brought to their attention.
Cyber Police Response and a New Safety App on the Way
State cyber cell Additional Director General of Police Yashasvi Yadav noted that phishing remains one of the oldest tricks in the cybercriminal playbook, deceiving people through fake websites, emails, and malicious links that look convincingly legitimate.
To help counter these kinds of scams, the cyber cell is preparing to launch the Maharashtra Cyber Safe App, currently under development and expected to roll out within a month. According to Yadav, the app is designed to address six different types of phishing attacks, including QR code fraud, APK file fraud, email phishing, and website phishing — giving users a more accessible way to verify suspicious offers before falling for them.
The overall warning really comes down to one simple principle: applicants should always verify internship offers through official channels, rather than responding to unsolicited messages promising attractive opportunities or financial benefits that seem too good to pass up.
FAQs
Q1. How can applicants verify if an Indian Army internship offer is genuine?
Genuine applications for the Indian Army Internship Programme are accepted only through the official AICTE National Internship Portal, not through unsolicited emails or third-party links.
Q2. What does the real Indian Army internship program actually offer?
The genuine 2026-27 program is a 75-day paid internship where selected candidates can earn up to ₹75,000, disbursed only after successful completion and subject to at least 75% attendance, with no guarantee of permanent employment.
Q3. What should someone do if they receive a suspicious internship email?
Cyber police advise against clicking any "apply" links in unsolicited emails and recommend verifying the offer directly through official government or defence portals before sharing any personal information.