How to spot a job scam
Job scams are everywhere in South Africa. We check every job on CheckedJobs before it goes live, but no check is perfect, so it helps to know the warning signs.
The golden rule: you should never have to pay to get a job. If someone asks you for money, it's a scam.
The most common job scams
“Pay a small fee to secure your spot”
Registration, training, uniform, medical, “admin” or placement fees. In South Africa, employers and recruitment agencies may not charge job seekers. Any request for money, even R50 by e-wallet or airtime, is a scam.
Fake learnerships and “mass hiring”
Posts claiming Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Transnet, SAPS, SASSA or a government department is hiring hundreds of people with no experience, often with a “stipend”. Real big employers advertise on their own careers websites and never charge fees.
WhatsApp-only jobs with no company name
“Send your name and CV to this WhatsApp number.” No company, no address, no interview. These are often used to collect personal details or to ask for money later.
Too-good-to-be-true pay
“Earn R15 000 a week from home, no experience needed.” Typing jobs, data capturing from home, or “online assistant” jobs with very high pay are almost always scams.
Requests for your ID or bank details up front
A real employer only needs your bank details after you've been hired, and certified ID copies usually only at interview stage. Never send these to someone you haven't met.
Crypto, forex and “investment” jobs
Recruiting “traders” who must open an account or deposit money, and pyramid or network-marketing schemes where you earn by recruiting others.
How to check if a job is real
- Search for the company: does it have a real website, a physical address and a landline?
- For big companies, look for the job on the company's own careers website.
- Be careful when the email address is a free one (like Gmail) and the company claims to be large.
- Real interviews happen at a real office or on a proper video call, not only by WhatsApp chat.
- Trust your gut. Pressure to decide quickly (“only 3 spaces left!”) is a warning sign.
If you've been targeted
- Stop contact and don't send any more money or documents.
- If you paid money or shared bank details, contact your bank immediately and report it to the SAPS.
- If you saw the advert on CheckedJobs, use the Report this job button on the job page, or contact us. Jobs reported by several people are hidden straight away.