I Talked to 30 Engineering Graduates Who Got Scammed by Online Courses. Here’s What They Missed.

Between October 2024 and March 2025, I had conversations with over 30 engineering graduates across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Most of them had one thing in common: they had paid between ₹15,000 and ₹90,000 for an online coding or tech course. And most of them felt cheated. Not always because the course was fake. More often, because what they received was far removed from what was promised. Recorded videos instead of live classes. Placement “support” that meant a shared Google Doc of job links. Mentors who responded to WhatsApp messages two days late. And EMI structures that locked them into loan repayments whether they got placed or not. The Indian edtech boom created a generation of students who are now deeply skeptical and rightfully so. But skepticism without a framework isn’t useful. So here’s what I’ve learned about separating legitimate programs from marketing-heavy ones. The first signal: the free trial. Every credible training institute should be willing to let you attend one live session before you pay. This costs them nothing if their product is good and it costs you nothing to ask. If an institute hesitates or pushes you toward payment first, that is your answer. The second signal: real alumni access. Testimonial videos are not proof. A two-minute clip of a smiling graduate can be produced in an afternoon. What you want is a direct conversation unscripted, unprompted with someone who completed the course in the last three to six months. If the institute cannot or will not facilitate this, question why. The third signal: the EMI fine print. Several popular platforms have partnered with NBFCs (non-banking financial companies) to offer “easy EMI.” What students often don’t know is that this is a loan one that appears on your CIBIL credit report. If you default or defer, it impacts your creditworthiness. Always ask: who am I actually paying? The institute directly, or a lending partner? The fourth signal: live versus recorded. A pre-recorded course is not inherently bad. For self-motivated learners who need flexibility, it can work well. But for freshers who have no prior tech experience and need mentorship, accountability, and real-time feedback a recorded course is the wrong tool. Ask specifically: are the sessions live? Can I interact with the instructor? Is there a fixed schedule? The fifth signal: verifiable placement claims. “500+ placed” is not a placement claim. It’s a marketing number. What you want is: the name of a company, the role, the approximate salary, and the time taken after course completion. One verified placement story is worth more than a thousand aggregate statistics.

I’m not writing this to tell you that all online courses are bad they are not. I’m writing this because I’ve seen too many students from smaller cities make decisions based on Instagram ads and vague promises, and then carry the weight of a bad experience for years. The Indian tech job market is real. The demand for skilled developers and analysts is real. And there are legitimate programs small and large that are genuinely delivering on their promises. The difference between a good outcome and a bad one is often just the five questions above asked before you pay. I work with Genzcodemy, a Bangalore-based live training institute that has placed over 250 students since launching in October 2024. We offer free demo classes before enrollment because we believe a student who has experienced the class is a student who can make an informed decision. If that interests you, visit genzcodemy.com or reach out via WhatsApp.