IN SHORT: According to posts doing the rounds on Facebook, Studio 88 is looking for job applications through unverified links and inboxes. But be wary, these job adverts are scams.
“Submit your CV at Studio 88,” suggests a Facebook post doing the rounds on Facebook in South Africa.
The Studio 88 Group is one of South Africa's largest branded clothing and footwear retailers.
The job advert says that Studio 88 is looking for trainees for December 2024 in positions such as sales assistants, cleaners, packers and customer assistants.
It claims that “no certificate” is required, only a South African identity document, and that applicants be unemployed. The post includes a link where users can supposedly apply for the job.
“If You Can't Apply this job Online‘Send Message’ and we will Reply you in your Inbox Right Now,” the job advert adds.
The same message has been posted to several public Facebook groups with tens of thousands of followers.
So, can job-hunters rely on this advert? We checked.
Red flags of a scam
While the Facebook post does tell users to “Submit your CV at Studio 88”, the requirements for the job are vague.
The ad only asks for a South African ID number and that applicants be unemployed. Asking social media users for their ID number is a tactic used by scammers to gain access to your personal information for fraud.
This job ad also includes unofficial links, a common red flag. Several of the links return a Google error 404 page, showing that the page is “not found”.
Other links take job seekers to unverified websites where they can “submit CVs” or “send email address”.
These links and asking users to “Send Message and we will Reply you in your Inbox Right Now” could be a form of phishing, a tactic to get users to reveal personal or confidential information.
The above text is also identical to another scam Africa Check has debunked which could also get users to pay for fake interviews.
Studio 88 advises on their website that job seekers contact the store directly or visit their careers page for opportunities.
Tips to keep you safe online
We’ve previously said that job scams are some of the most resilient forms of false information, because they target both the most vulnerable and the more guarded.
So what can you do to keep safe online? We’ve got some tips:
- Check for badly written posts: Look out for spelling and grammar mistakes, or random capitalisation and lots of exclamation marks.
- Look for unverified links: Authentic job adverts will take users to verified business platforms to apply. Look out for non-existent webpages or unverified websites.
- Asking to inbox: But be wary of strange requests to send inbox messages, especially if you are asked to share personal information.
- What can you do? Don’t hit share and trust your instincts. If a post looks fishy, it’s probably a scam.
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
A fact-checker has rated your Facebook or Instagram post as “false”, “altered”, “partly false” or “missing context”. This could have serious consequences. What do you do?
Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
Africa Check is a partner in Meta's third-party fact-checking programme to help stop the spread of false information on social media.
The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
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