Hi everyone,

I recently applied for a Data Analyst role and went through an online technical/operations interview. After that, I received a selection update via email and WhatsApp. The communication says I’ve been selected for a Data Analyst position with a salary of around ₹8.6 LPA. The work location is mentioned as Bangalore (remote basis is also mentioned). I was told I would receive the offer letter soon after completing the next steps. The HR person contacted me via WhatsApp and phone call.

🚩 Concerning part: They are asking me to complete a NumPy certification before joining, with details like certification cost of \~₹25,000–₹27,000 (approx). I need to pay first, then share the invoice/receipt, and they said it will be reimbursed on the same day after joining.It’s also up to me from where I do the certification, but they said they will suggest or guide me on where I can take it from.

📧 Email details: The email I received is not from an official corporate domain. Sender is notifications@zohoforms.in and reply-to is talent@careers-ameriprise.com. When I checked the official website, I found they usually use domains like @ameriprise.com and @ampf.com.

📞 HR explanation: When I questioned this, the HR said Zoho Forms is used as a CRM for recruitment. The certification provider will be shared later by seniors. They insisted I submit documents and bank details first. They also said the Bangalore office is a “new upcoming location”. When I asked for official email verification, they didn’t give a clear answer and said my profile would be put on hold if I don’t proceed and I can reapply later.

My question: Is this a normal hiring process in IT/data analyst roles in India where candidates are asked to pay for certifications before joining, get reimbursed after submission of invoice, and receive offers before proper email verification? Or does this look like a scam / fake recruitment process?

I haven’t shared any documents or made any payment yet. Would really appreciate guidance from people who have seen similar hiring processes.