The fake ad details job requirements and mentions earnings of up to R20,000 a month. Receiving an application, fraudsters contact job seekers and ask for R1,000 in cash to register a successful applicant with the metro’s medical aid provider.

Monday (18/11) marked the start of International Fraud Awareness Week. It encourages business leaders and employees to take proactive steps to minimise the impact of fraud.

The municipality will never ask for money from job applicants, said spokesperson Qondile Khedama.

‘Only candidates with relevant experience will be considered’

A fake vacancy for an admin clerk was advertised in the municipality's name. The job description read as follows: 

“Only candidates with relevant experience will be considered. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Tertiary qualification in Administration/Office Management
• Minimum of 3 years experience in an office manager capacity with good knowledge of business operations, facilities management, and administrative best practices
• Accounting/bookkeeping advantageous
• Computer literate
• Experience with stock control, payroll, clocking
• Hospitality experience essential
• Must be able to take ownership, work independently, and proactively
• General administration skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong people management skills
• Valid driver's license

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: R18,000.00-R20,000.00 per month”

The fake vacancy. Photo supplied

A recent graduate, who wishes to remain anonymous, applied for the position and received the following SMS:

“INVITATION TO AN INTERVIEW.

Dear applicant, we would like to invite you to attend an interview.

POSITION: ADMIN CLERK.

DATE: 18/11/2024.

VENUE: CITY OF MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (Bram Fischer Building, Nelson Mandela Drive & Markgraaf Street).

TIME: 10:30.

NB: Please call your HR coordinator, MR MOGALE, at 0711277127 to confirm your booking today, no later than today.”

Screenshot of the fake sms. Photo supplied

An applicant contacted the number, and the coordinator sounded legitimate at first. He mentioned that she and four others had been selected for the position to fulfill broad-based black economic empowerment purposes, as they had five openings.

He listed the diversity of the candidates: a coloured woman, an Indian woman, two black women, and a white woman. He claimed that the SMS for the interview was merely a formality, and she had effectively secured the job.

The coordinator then asked if she had medical aid. When she said yes, he informed her that the ‘municipality’ used a specific medical aid scheme. To register her, he claimed she needed to pay a R1,000 fee that same day to secure her position. This request raised several red flags for her.

Notice from the municipality. Photo supplied. 

Khedama confirmed the advertisement was fraudulent and that the individual was not employed by Mangaung Metro. The municipality has since issued a notice to warn the public about the scam.

OFM News/Heidrè Malgas mvh