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By SANews


Recruitment scam alert: Beware of criminals posing as department officials

Criminals are taking advantage of the dire unemployment rate in South Africa by luring job seekers with a recruitment scam.


The Department of Employment and Labour in the Free State cautioned the public against scammers posing as recruitment officials from the department.

Scammers active in Free State

Recruitment scam

In a statement, the department noted with concern reports of scammers who were contacting aspirant work seekers and offering them fraudulent employment positions at a fee of R2,000.

“The fraudsters are targeting desperate job seekers and pretending to be recruitment officials working for the Department of Employment and Labour.

The department’s Cebisa Siyobi said the scammers “are taking advantage of the dire unemployment rate in the country and are luring scores of people who are in desperate need of jobs”.

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Dept adheres to recruitment policies

Siyobi urged residents to be vigilant and guard against “parting with their last funds”. Siyobi said all recruitment was done in line with recruitment policies, in a fair and impartial manner.

“Under no circumstances are departmental officials selling job positions to the public. Such acts in the name of the department are condemned.”

The public was encouraged to report such acts by contacting the nearest Department of Employment and Labour offices, or report on Department’s fraud hotline on 0860-022-194 or email – fraud@labour.gov.za

Vacancies at the department of employment and labour will be posted on official channels only.

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