Job seekers targeted by scammers impersonating SAPS, municipal officials
Criminals are using social media to post fake adverts or to contact their unsuspecting victims using details of legitimate organisations or companies.
MALALANE – Last Tuesday provincial police warned that a fake advertisement regarding vacancies for entry-level trainees at the SAPS had been doing the rounds on social media.
According to the advert, the police are looking for entry-level constables and interested individuals are urged to visit their nearest police stations to apply.
Officials confirmed that the advert is fake and do not know where it originated from.
The last trainee intake for 2019 was advertised in May and closed in June. The selection process is currently almost complete.
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The provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, urged people to be cautious regarding adverts and similar fake information periodically circulated on social media.
“In most cases, these adverts require people to make cash deposits. Usually the targeted individuals would be directed to make use of cardless services offered by banks to deposit the money then forward the pin and other relevant information to them,” Zuma said.
He warned that SAPS does not require people to pay any money to secure employment opportunities.
Community members should also note that SAPS vacancies are usually posted on the website or advertised in reputable newspapers. If found elsewhere, residents are urged to enquire if it is legitimate at their nearest police station.
On November 29, the Nkomazi Local Municipality also posted a warning regarding a job scam on their Facebook page.
People applying for their traffic officer learnership programme were being targeted. The municipality received reports that fraudsters were taking bribes and promising people they would be among the successful applicants.
Like many of their vacancies and tenders, the advert for the learnerships was posted on the municipality’s official Facebook page and website.
Applicants were required to send an application letter, CV and other required documents via post or hand deliver it to the civic centre before Friday January 4.
Like the SAPS, no legitimate company or recruiter would ask job seekers for money to secure employment. This is considered fraud and bribery, and should be reported to the police.
Several governmental institutions and well-known organisations’ details have been used to swindle people in the past.
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Job seekers are urged to verify if a company, job offer or employment opportunity is legitimate before committing to it or paying any money. This can be done by visiting the company’s website, comparing contact numbers and email addresses and doing a web search for more information on the company and their activities.
