Africa Check recently exposed a scam advert offering fake jobs at Transnet on the Facebook page “Jobs learnership and bursary”. The ad has since been removed.
But the page also claims, in two separate posts, that it can get people jobs with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The posts include links that sometimes redirect to a malware webpage. They encourage users to click the links to “apply online” or “download application form”, but when the links don’t redirect they go to static, reproduced job ads.
And the website given for “Jobs learnership and bursary” is “Careers23”, which may mislead people into thinking it’s the legitimate jobs website Careers24.
Both posts ask users to “COMM£NT [sic] WITH YOUR LOCATION”, “click 'SHAR£' we will inbox you” and “Comm£nt ‘help’ we will inbox you Details”.
What the ads don’t do is refer or redirect to the official SAPS careers website, where recruitment updates are posted.
In 2016, the SAPS issued a media statement warning of fake online job adverts.
“The public should ... bear in mind that they can view existing vacancies and obtain the official application forms from the official website of the SAPS www.saps.gov.za,” the statement reads.
“Only the information that is on this website can be regarded as authentic.”
There are a few important things to look for in any job advert, according to the MPC Recruitment Group, a hiring company based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Credible job adverts should have a reference number indicated and a valid email address or contact number of the agent or company representative,” consultant Roxanne Oosthuizen told Africa Check.
“People can also call the actual firm and speak to their human resources representatives or internal recruitment team.” – Africa Check
But the page also claims, in two separate posts, that it can get people jobs with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The posts include links that sometimes redirect to a malware webpage. They encourage users to click the links to “apply online” or “download application form”, but when the links don’t redirect they go to static, reproduced job ads.
And the website given for “Jobs learnership and bursary” is “Careers23”, which may mislead people into thinking it’s the legitimate jobs website Careers24.
Both posts ask users to “COMM£NT [sic] WITH YOUR LOCATION”, “click 'SHAR£' we will inbox you” and “Comm£nt ‘help’ we will inbox you Details”.
Only jobs advertised on SAPS website are authentic
What the ads don’t do is refer or redirect to the official SAPS careers website, where recruitment updates are posted.
In 2016, the SAPS issued a media statement warning of fake online job adverts.
“The public should ... bear in mind that they can view existing vacancies and obtain the official application forms from the official website of the SAPS www.saps.gov.za,” the statement reads.
“Only the information that is on this website can be regarded as authentic.”
How to check if a job ad is real
There are a few important things to look for in any job advert, according to the MPC Recruitment Group, a hiring company based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Credible job adverts should have a reference number indicated and a valid email address or contact number of the agent or company representative,” consultant Roxanne Oosthuizen told Africa Check.
“People can also call the actual firm and speak to their human resources representatives or internal recruitment team.” – Africa Check
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.
Further Reading
ESA ALEXANDER / POOL / AFP
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