A Reddit post from a small business owner in Delhi has gone viral after he detailed a disturbing encounter with a prospective job candidate. Titled “I got threatened by a prospective job candidate,” the post quickly drew attention for highlighting the risks of skipping proper background checks during hiring.
“He Said He’ll Bring 10 Men Outside My Office”
The user, who works at his father’s furniture showroom in Delhi, said this was his first attempt at hiring someone. He posted a job listing for an accountant on Naukri.com and selected a candidate to help with daily tasks on Tally, such as preparing invoices, quotations, and e-way bills.
I got threatened by prospective job candidate
byu/Prestigious_Cold9315 inIndianWorkplace
However, things turned bizarre right from the beginning. The new hire missed his joining date and only showed up after four days, claiming he was unwell. “He called me and said he only came to talk to me,” the Redditor wrote.
The candidate did show up for work the next day but made an unusual request: Rs 500 for a medical ultrasound. “Who the hell asks their employer for such a favour?” the Redditor wrote, adding that the man had previously tried asking for money via Paytm, which he refused multiple times.
Eventually, the Redditor gave him Rs 500 in cash—but the man didn’t show up again for three days. When he did call, it was only to quit and demand an extra Rs 350, claiming his daily wage was Rs 850. When refused, the man allegedly became aggressive. “He threatened me and said, ‘Mai jaat hu, office ke bahar 10 bande le aaunga kal,’” the post read.
Internet Reacts: “File a Police Complaint”
The incident sparked a flood of advice and concern in the Reddit comments. Many urged the Redditor to take legal action. One user advised, “File a police complaint. Let the police handle this. Get an employment contract in place in future if you didn’t.”
Another added, “You my friend ended up hiring a fraud. Anyway, he will not do anything. Block him and do your work.”
A third user suggested recording future calls and reporting any threats to the police.
The Larger Lesson: Why Background Checks Matter
This incident has brought renewed focus on the importance of verifying backgrounds before hiring. The Redditor asked the community for tips on how to avoid similar situations in the future.
Ironically, the story comes on the heels of another viral hiring-related incident in India. A Bengaluru-based startup recently posted a job for a “cracked full-stack engineer” with no requirement for resumes, degrees, or experience—only a 100-word intro and a portfolio. Despite the Rs 40 lakh salary on offer, the unconventional process drew both praise and skepticism online.
