Protect yourself from fake job opportunities

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, fraudsters know that job and interview opportunities are highly sought-after. This is when criminals can take advantage of unsuspecting job seekers.

So says Lettie-Basani Phume, the group human capital executive at Momentum Metropolitan.

She says the methods used by fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and convincing.

Impersonator profiles mimicking well-known or searchable employees pretend there is a not-to-be-missed investment or a job with high pay and good benefits.

Fake Facebook and Twitter profiles often include stolen photographs and accurate biography details of the person they are impersonating, making the con more believable.

“A group of job seekers from the North West were promised an interview and a half-day of training for the cost of transport to the offices in Centurion,” said Phume.

“After paying for the transport, they were disappointed when it did not arrive, and they learnt that neither the interview nor the training was real.

“Our advice is to report the scammers to the police, but by the time the con is revealed, their cellphone numbers are discontinued and they have disappeared.

“An important thing to remember is that legitimate employers and agencies never promise interviews or work in exchange for an up-front application fee.

“This includes training, transport costs or favours. There is also no good reason for an employer to ask for your bank account details before you have secured a job. This is a red flag that the opportunity may not be legitimate.”

Tips for staying safe during a job search:

• How and where were you contacted? Be cautious of direct messages and friend requests from people you do not know or recognise. Scammers often use fake social media accounts and WhatsApp profiles to defraud you. Ask yourself how likely it is that a large company would have your phone number to directly WhatsApp you a job offer.

• Check who you transact with: If you receive an SMS, WhatsApp, call or email from someone claiming to be from a reputable company, contact the company directly to verify that the person and the offer are legitimate. Use the number or email off their website, not the number in the message.

• Never deposit money in exchange for potential work: Be vigilant if asked to deposit into a personal bank account or make payments via WhatsApp. Usually, representatives are not authorised to accept cash or deposits into private bank accounts on behalf of the company.

• Do not be pressured into making immediate decisions: Offers that are time sensitive or urgent are a ploy to get you to make a hurried decision. Legitimate organisations will give you time to make an informed decision. Do not be pressured into making hasty decisions.

• Only meet somewhere safe: Reputable companies will only interview you at their offices, at a registered employment agency, or via an online call. Never agree to meet at a private home or apartment for an interview.

• Do not share personal or financial information: Legitimate companies will not call, email, SMS, or WhatsApp to ask for your personal or financial information. Be wary of unexpected attempts to get your personal information, like filling out application forms, answering phone surveys or responding to social media quizzes. These details significantly increase the chance of identity theft. Only share limited information once you have verified that the request is from an authorised representative.

• Do research on the company before applying: Researching a company can provide insight into its legitimacy, such as a website, social media presence, and reviews from previous employees. It is important to know if the company is reputable and well-known in its industry or if they have any negative reviews. Researching the company can provide information about the job application process, actual vacancies, job responsibilities, salary, and benefits. Most larger companies only accept job applications online.

“We ask everyone to share these tips and for job seekers to be careful to avoid being caught out.

“Anyone wanting to check out any possible scams relating to Momentum Metropolitan can contact the company: info@mmltd.co.za. One email can save you from falling prey to scammers,” Phume concluded.

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