A number of Facebook pages have been posting fake job ads about various companies in South Africa.
One of the recent adverts posted on 3 July 2019 claims to be from South African fast-food restaurant chain Hungry Lion and has been shared and commented on thousands of times.
The advert has been shared on a number of different Facebook pages.
Some of the instructions in the job advert resemble other fake job ads shared on Facebook that have been debunked by Africa Check.
For instance, the advert does not specify a closing date for applications. Another old trick is asking respondents to comment “Help” to be contacted via direct message.
Africa Check showed the advert to Hungry Lion and, according to their customer care department, the advert is false.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This is indeed false,” they said.
There are a number of ways to check if an advert posted online is fake.
Fake adverts usually do not include links to the official website of the actual company but ask interested applicants to message via Facebook.
Other adverts that Africa Check have found to be false also ask applicants to comment “Help” on the post. Usually applicants will then be asked for their personal details and then be asked for payment.
Most companies advertise jobs on their official websites and verified social media accounts and do not charge money for the application process.
In most cases, fake job adverts include grammatical and spelling errors and email addresses that do not link to the actual company. Sometimes applicants are also asked to travel somewhere that isn't a company location.
Be careful with your personal details online and remember that if an advert sounds too good to be true, it probably is. – Dancan Bwire
One of the recent adverts posted on 3 July 2019 claims to be from South African fast-food restaurant chain Hungry Lion and has been shared and commented on thousands of times.
The advert has been shared on a number of different Facebook pages.
Some of the instructions in the job advert resemble other fake job ads shared on Facebook that have been debunked by Africa Check.
For instance, the advert does not specify a closing date for applications. Another old trick is asking respondents to comment “Help” to be contacted via direct message.
‘Advert is false’
Africa Check showed the advert to Hungry Lion and, according to their customer care department, the advert is false.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This is indeed false,” they said.
Telltale signs of a fake advert
There are a number of ways to check if an advert posted online is fake.
Fake adverts usually do not include links to the official website of the actual company but ask interested applicants to message via Facebook.
Other adverts that Africa Check have found to be false also ask applicants to comment “Help” on the post. Usually applicants will then be asked for their personal details and then be asked for payment.
Most companies advertise jobs on their official websites and verified social media accounts and do not charge money for the application process.
In most cases, fake job adverts include grammatical and spelling errors and email addresses that do not link to the actual company. Sometimes applicants are also asked to travel somewhere that isn't a company location.
Be careful with your personal details online and remember that if an advert sounds too good to be true, it probably is. – Dancan Bwire
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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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