City Power warns of fake training scam targeting job seekers
Residents are urged to stay vigilant after City Power exposed a fraudulent advertisement falsely offering funded Artisan Recognition for Prior Learning (ARPL) trade test opportunities.
City Power (CP) has warned residents and job seekers about a fraudulent training advertisement circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
The message falsely promotes an “opportunity of a lifetime” for individuals with N1–N6 electrical engineering qualifications to obtain an Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) trade test qualification, allegedly funded by CP. The entity confirmed to the Roodepoort Northsider that the advertisement is false, misleading and unauthorised.
According to the general manager for public relations and communications, Isaac Mangena, the message attempts to lure job seekers by promising a nationally recognised qualification and claiming CP will cover the course costs.
“The message further creates a sense of urgency by stating that a limited number of candidates will be accepted and that applications will close once the required number is reached. The wording is deliberately crafted to appear credible and appealing, particularly to unemployed individuals and residents seeking skills development opportunities,” said Mangena.
“The advert instructs applicants to submit personal details and certified documents via WhatsApp to a private cellphone number. The individual named in the message is presented as Katlego Mthombeni, with the cellphone number 074 380 0996,” he added.
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Residents are urged to exercise caution and refrain from responding or sharing personal information with unknown individuals. Anyone who receives the message should ignore it, avoid engaging with the sender and report the number on the relevant platform.
Members of the public who have already shared their information are encouraged to report the matter to the police and notify CP by calling the security risk management control room on 011 490 7900/ 7911/ 7553 or via WhatsApp on 083 579 4497.
Mangena advised individuals seeking career and skills development opportunities to visit the utility’s website at www.citypower.co.za and click on the Careers tab.
