Social media has become an important stop for job seekers as information is easily and quickly shared. But so are fake job adverts.
In 2018 people looking for work were asked to pay money to apply for jobs as census enumerators and supervisors at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Africa Check found that the advert was a scam.
A recent Facebook post offering jobs at supermarket chain Shoprite has been flagged by users as potentially fake. We checked if it was another scam.
The post said Shoprite was hiring workers to fill new positions. It linked to an advert on a website that claimed “a wide range of store-environment positions are also available in [Shoprite’s] continent-wide operations, including food, furniture and fast-food retailing”. (Note: The link to the website currently returns the error message that the “account has been suspended”.)
The advert told people to apply by dialling *120*446# on their phones. It included a link to the Shoprite Holdings careers website, which carries the same code
But Shoprite told Africa Check they have “no association” with the site that posted the listing.
The retailer said job seekers should only use their careers website, which has reliable and up-to-date information.
Shoprite also warned people to be wary of any advert that asked job seekers to pay an application fee.
There are a few important things to look for in any job advert, says the MPC Recruitment Group, a recruitment 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.” - Lloyd Hazvineyi (08/01/19)
Further reading:
https://africacheck.org/fbcheck/dont-fall-for-kenyan-census-jobs-scams/
In 2018 people looking for work were asked to pay money to apply for jobs as census enumerators and supervisors at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Africa Check found that the advert was a scam.
A recent Facebook post offering jobs at supermarket chain Shoprite has been flagged by users as potentially fake. We checked if it was another scam.
‘Wide range of positions’
The post said Shoprite was hiring workers to fill new positions. It linked to an advert on a website that claimed “a wide range of store-environment positions are also available in [Shoprite’s] continent-wide operations, including food, furniture and fast-food retailing”. (Note: The link to the website currently returns the error message that the “account has been suspended”.)
The advert told people to apply by dialling *120*446# on their phones. It included a link to the Shoprite Holdings careers website, which carries the same code
Shoprite not associated with site
But Shoprite told Africa Check they have “no association” with the site that posted the listing.
The retailer said job seekers should only use their careers website, which has reliable and up-to-date information.
Shoprite also warned people to be wary of any advert that asked job seekers to pay an application fee.
How to check if a job ad is real
There are a few important things to look for in any job advert, says the MPC Recruitment Group, a recruitment 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.” - Lloyd Hazvineyi (08/01/19)
Further reading:
https://africacheck.org/fbcheck/dont-fall-for-kenyan-census-jobs-scams/
Republish our content for free
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.
Add new comment