Beware of paying for false job offers

The Ermelo Department of Correctional Services warns the community against a job scam.
Ermelo Head Correctional Centre Mr Hector Nkosi said people are conned into paying money for employment at the Department. According to him, the conman seems to be familiar with the Correctional Service recruiting process.
This comes after Mr Nkosi was approached by a number of people, some of whom had already paid money into a certain bank account and received SMSs to go to the offices of the Correctional Centre to sign employment contracts.
Mr Nkosi said some of them came with the money as arranged with the conman.
One of the victims is a woman from Wesselton whose name is withheld on request.
She informed Mr Nkosi that she was made to believe this was a genuine transaction because she met the conman through her ward councillor, who also convinced her that the arrangement was legitimate. She subsequently paid the money into the required bank account.
Municipal spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, condemned the act and involvement of a council member, as it brings the name of the institution into disrepute.
He has also requested that the law take its course. Once the matter has been reported to the police and the identity of the councillor revealed, the municipal management will deal with it accordingly.
It is also not clear whether there are members of the correctional service working with the conman.
The victim has since reported the matter and the police are investigating.
Members of the community are urged to report anyone who promises employment in exchange for money.
Mr Nkosi emphasised that the Department of Correctional Services has an open recruiting policy that regulates the employment of potential candidates and people must not be lured into accepting unverified job offers.