POLOKWANE – A training centre in the city, QMS Training, has warned people that fraudsters are using false QMS certificates of qualification to secure employment while others have already been employed on the same premise.
QMS Training owner, Christelle van Schalkwyk, said the circulation of these fake certificates had been brought to her attention by several business owners in the city.
“After looking into the matter I found there were several fake certificates in circulation. Even my training centre’s pamphlets had been duplicated with new telephone numbers on them. The people who committed this fraud claimed to be in business with us and said they assisted us with quality training and certification. We work on our own and these claims are not true,” she said.
She added that, since QMS Training had a good name in the city, people trusted the authenticity of these certificates.
She said in some instances, this could lead to serious harm being caused, as some of the training courses were basic first aid, basic fire fighting, health and safety, heavy vehicle driving, working at heights, and bush cutting.
“These are all high risk jobs and a person must be properly qualified for these.”
Van Schalkwyk said the training centre was an accredited transport education training authority and a construction education and training authority.
She said she had been forced to issue newly designed certificates and hoped they would not be copied again.
People who misuse the fake certificates are committing fraud and can be prosecuted by the law. People who suspect they have been presented with a fake certificate can contact the QMS Training office at (015) 291 3262.
Van Schalkwyk said they had not opened a case with the police as she felt there was no need and that the police would not be able to do anything about it.
“We reported a similar matter to the police about a year ago and nothing came of it,” she alleged.
Polokwane police spokesperson WO Lesiba Ramoshaba said being in possession of, or dealing with, fraudulent certificates was a criminal offence.
There are different places where this type of fraud could be reported, he said.
“Matters such as these can be reported to the nearest police station, or to the Association of Certification Fraud Examiners South Africa, which can be contacted at 08610 72422 or send an e-mail to saica@saica.co.za. For more information go to their website at www.saica.co.za,” said Ramoshaba.
