Don’t fall for these job scams
It’s important to beware of job scams at a time when unemployment is high and thousands of job seekers who just completed matric are joining the job market. The more desperate people are, the easier it is for scammers to cash in on their desperation.
Online job portals and social media platforms also create fertile ground for scammers to prey on desperate job seekers. There’s a common WhatsApp scam that offers people thousands of rands for doing things like subscribing and liking YouTube channels or submitting screenshots of particular locations for a fee.
Sumsub’s third annual identity fraud report states that there was a substantial increase in deep-fake frauds in SA where people steal images to impersonate others and manipulate their voices to sound like them, in the past year.
“Scammers employ sophisticated tactics and it’s crucial to stay informed and exercise caution throughout your job search. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” says Larisha Naidoo, head of Zimele, Anglo American’s enterprise and supplier development arm.
She warns job seekers about these common red flags:
Unsolicited WhatsApp offers: Legitimate companies have official WhatsApp channels for communication. Double-check their websites and social media pages for authorised channels and enquire about the specific job offer from there.
Mismatched e-mail addresses: “Scammers often mimic the company’s official format, but with slight variations, like adding an extra letter. Verify the e-mail format on the company’s website and be wary of any discrepancies,” warns Naidoo.
Missing job postings: If the supposed opportunity is not advertised on the company website or official social media pages, it’s probably a scam, adds Naidoo.
Typos and grammatical errors: Professional companies prioritise quality control so documents with spelling errors or grammatical mistakes should raise suspicion.
Upfront payments: Legitimate companies never ask for money upfront for job opportunities or to secure contracts. Beware of requests for quotes demanding pre-payments.
Phishing attempts: Scammers often use suspicious links or prize offers to phish for personal and banking information. Never click on these links or provide sensitive details unless you are absolutely sure of the source’s legitimacy.
Pressure tactics: Scammers often try to create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to make quick decisions without time for proper research.
Fake interviews: Be sceptical if an interview is conducted via e-mails or messaging apps.