ALBERTON Child Welfare warns jobseekers to be vigilant of ongoing job scams that are making the rounds through SMSs.
About three jobseekers were subjected to a job scam after a “potential employer” robbed them of their money by pretending to offer them employment.
The three desperate jobseekers that had placed adverts in Caxton’s local newspapers, namely the Alberton Record, Roodeport Record and Benoni City Times, were contacted by a woman pretending to be an employer.
In the SMS, she refers to herself as a “Mrs Simon”, promising these unemployed individuals permanent positions that hope to pay pleasing weekly wages.
They were promised cleaning jobs at the Child Welfare and asked to pay an amount of R170 at Pep Stores to secure their uniform at their new jobs.
Alberton Child Welfare continued to rubbish these scams that target unemployed individuals.
Zeenith Domingo, director at Child Welfare SA Greater Alberton, said they as an organisation distance themselves from these scams.
“We are aware of this ongoing job scam and we highly condemn it. These scammers would request that ladies make payments into an account through Pep Stores (she claimed it was for a uniform). These scammers have been using our name, but are using Alberton Children’s home, instead of Alberton Child Welfare,” she said.
She pleaded for the scammers to stop using the organisation’s name, saying that they will be brought to book.
“We are working with the police on this matter and those responsible will be caught soon. To the community, please verify before making any payments. If we employ anyone, we do not require fees. All posts are advertised only through the NGO Pulse,” she added.
Lebogang Mokolokolo, a resident of Thokoza, said she was scammed into paying her last money.
“I was looking for a two-day job to make an extra income, but was scammed by a lady calling herself “Mary”.
“I was told to come on June 10 to start working, only to find out it wasn’t true. As a mother of two, I wanted to spend my first payment on my children,” she said.
Alberton SAPS spokesperson Capt Manare Ramotshela encouraged the public to report such cases.
“We are appealing to anyone who might have any information regarding these scammers to contact me on 079 695 1318,” said Ramotshela.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
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