IN SHORT: The Department of Correctional Services is not recruiting “prison warden guards and security officer trainees” via social media or third-party websites. Posts claiming otherwise are likely scams.
A post circulating on Facebook claims that South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is hiring, offering salaries between R8,500 and R17,290 for a 12-month contract (approximately US$500 to $1,000).
Part of the post reads: “Department of Correctional is looking prison warden Guards and security officer training open now. Requirements: Must be between age 21–55 years. Must be a South African citizen with a clear criminal record. If you are interested say direct ‘YES’.”
The post includes a link, but it does not direct you to the department’s official website.
But similar posts have been shared widely in Facebook groups with hundreds and thousands of followers.
The offer is not legit. Here’s how you can tell.
Critical details missing
Africa Check has previously debunked similar fake government job ads, including scams that use the names of public sector departments to mislead job seekers.
This post uses the same tactics seen in other scams circulating on social media. One clear sign is that it does not direct applicants to the official DCS website or the public service vacancy circular. Instead, it instructs users to apply on a third-party site, which is not an authorised platform for government recruitment.
The circulating job ad also lacks critical details, such as the DCS facility doing the hiring, official reference numbers and verified contact information. It also uses poor grammar and includes spelling errors – a sure red flag.
No such official vacancies advertised
Africa Check was unable to find any evidence of the training programme or recruitment opportunity on the DCS website or in the public service vacancy circular.
All legitimate DCS vacancies are published on these verified channels, with clear application instructions, reference numbers and closing dates. The vague social media post does not appear on any official platform.
Although the post might appear convincing to someone urgently seeking work or training, it is very likely a scam aimed at exploiting job seekers or collecting their personal information.
The DCS has warned the public about this fake job advert and urged people to always verify job offers by visiting the department's website.
Stay safe and avoid scams
Africa Check has published a guide to help job seekers identify fake job and training offers. Scammers often target financially vulnerable individuals by making adverts appear urgent, easy to apply for and legitimate.
If you see a suspicious advert, avoid clicking on links or sharing your personal information with unverified sources. Always check the official website of the department or company mentioned in the post. If the opportunity is not listed there, assume the advert is fake.
Still unsure if an opportunity is real? Africa Check investigates suspicious claims. If you spot a questionable job ad, send it to us and we may investigate it.
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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