Several young people in Kabul say that recently, the activities of fraudulent employment agencies have increased. They add that these companies, under the pretext of providing job opportunities, offering career counseling, and assisting with recruitment in foreign companies and international organizations, have taken money from applicants but have provided no actual services. According to these young people, some of these offices have taken amounts ranging from 500 to 2,000 Afghanis from them with promises of employment.
Some of these young people told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that these offices target job seekers through attractive advertisements and promises of immediate employment, exploiting the situation of unemployment. According to them, many applicants, after paying money, have either received no response or have been faced with various excuses. They believe that the lack of licensing, the absence of transparency in recruitment, job announcements, and insufficient oversight of such companies have contributed to the expansion of this trend and the victimization of more people. They emphasize that under difficult economic conditions, such fraud has imposed additional financial and psychological pressure on them.
Sitara, one of the female heads of household in Kabul, says that while searching for job opportunities, she has encountered numerous fraudulent recruitment companies. She expresses concern over the increase in the activities of these companies and says that they exploit the difficult economic situation and unemployment among women.
She describes her experience as follows: “About a month ago, I went to a company that provided employment services. They said they had contracts with various companies, institutions, and organizations, and could introduce me. They asked for 1,500 Afghanis, and I paid it, but I got no result. Later, it became clear that it was a fraudulent company. After the Taliban came, I lost my job, and for me, as a woman who is the head of a household, it is very difficult to be unemployed. I have to work.”
Abdul Sattar, another young man in Kabul, says that he has also fallen victim to one of these fraudulent recruitment companies. According to him, these companies deceive young people by misusing the names of international organizations and then completely disappear after taking money. He explains: “When we went to one of the companies in the Dasht-e Barchi area in Kabul, they spoke in a way that made them seem different from other companies and very trustworthy. They gave me a form to fill out. They said that if I were shortlisted for the position I would be introduced to, I would have to pay 500 Afghanis. Hoping to find a job, I paid this amount.”
He calls on the media to raise awareness about the activities of fraudulent recruitment companies so that other young people do not fall victim to them. He also urges his peers to gather complete information and act with caution before approaching such companies.
Abdul Sattar adds, “After a week, they called me and said they would cooperate with me if I wanted to be introduced for an interview. They said a company affiliated with the United Nations needed staff in the survey section. I was very happy. But this time they asked for 5,000 Afghanis. I borrowed the money from a friend and paid it back, hoping to get the job. After some time, I realized it was nothing but fraud.”
Mobin, another young person who has fallen victim to these scams, says that due to widespread unemployment, many young people turn to such offices, but ultimately face deception and exploitation. He calls for serious action to prevent the activities of such offices and adds that under current conditions, even 500 Afghanis is a significant amount for many families, as everyone is struggling to provide food for their families.
He says: “I went to one of the recruitment offices in Kabul. I had seen their advertisement on Facebook and went to Shahr-e Naw in Kabul. They gave us a form and took 500 Afghanis, saying it was related to foreign companies. They asked for my ID, photos, and other documents and said they would send me an email later. But no email came, and no call was made. When I went back after some time, I realized the office no longer existed, and their phone number was also switched off.”
Shukoor, another young man, says that at a time when most people, especially young people in Afghanistan, are unemployed, there is a need for companies that genuinely provide employment opportunities. According to him, many existing companies have not been very effective, and some of the companies operating as recruitment agencies are themselves effectively inactive and have been created merely to mislead young people and the public.
Shukoor emphasizes that these companies lack real effectiveness and that most of their promises and advertisements are a form of marketing. He says: “At a time when most people and young people are unemployed, we need companies that truly create employment opportunities. Unfortunately, some of these companies that operate as recruitment agencies are themselves inactive and merely mislead people. These institutions do not meet the real needs of young people.”
Hadid, another young man in Kabul, says that he has also encountered fraudulent recruitment companies while searching for job opportunities. According to him, the lack of job opportunities in the country has allowed these companies to operate easily in an environment without regulation, oversight, and attention from the Taliban.
He adds: “About six to seven months ago, one of these companies, which claimed it would send applicants to Qatar and other countries, took money from me and collected my CV, but no result has been achieved so far. These companies are not only active in Kabul but also continue the same practice in other provinces as well. The growth of such companies in Afghanistan is due to the lack of job opportunities and the absence of transparency in the recruitment process, both in the public and private sectors. If recruitment were transparent and based on proper testing and evaluation, individuals could be hired legally and with confidence, but under current conditions, young people are forced to turn to unreliable companies and lose their money.”
A United Nations report shows that the economy of Afghanistan remained highly fragile in 2025. According to the report, the unemployment rate in the country has reached 75 percent, and poverty affects more than 90 percent of the population.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
افزایش شرکتهای کاریابی جعلی در کابل؛ جوانان در دام کلاهبرداری و بیکاری
