Job seekers warned as scammers target unemployed youth in SA

With slight improvement in the official unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2024, 32,1% of the country’s working population remain unemployed.

And as the State of the Nation address nears on Thursday 6 February, the country and critics will listen with baited breath at the plans to improve this number, among a long list of other concerns.

But along with the desperation of the unemployed there has also been a worrying rise in opportunistic scammers who prey on this vulnerability.

Unemployment

For several youth in the metro, the daily struggles of unemployment create the perfect storm.

Chantal Brown has been unemployed for six months. She has a matric certificate and would like to work in the human resources field. “Not having money to buy essentials and having a tiny human with great needs makes it difficult. My husband is employed part time, but I do get assistance from my mom and daughter at times when necessary. It is not cool having to ask for help if you are used to be the one everyone always relied on.

“The government can definitely do more to assist the unemployed. I personally have been applying for posts for the last 10 years and never get anywhere, also getting people with disabilities employed is even worse. I think the government can better implement funding for small businesses to start up so that more people who are unemployed could have access to opening their own tuck shops and fruit stalls and home-based businesses for those interested in enriching their lives and the lives of those within their communities.”

Nikita Eksteen (28) has been unemployed for two years after completing a one-year contract at a Café at Strandfontein Pavilion. “I would like to become a midwife, but I don’t have matric. It is very hard to get into that field. I dropped out of high school in 2011 to help my mother with my brothers while she went to work. I would like to study to become a midwife. The most difficult part of being unemployed is the fact that I have to live off what I can get here and there, and living in an informal settlement makes it even harder, because everyone struggles to get by.

“The government is not doing enough at all. They can provide better opportunities for our youth, create more job opportunities. Also, even if we do fill in jobseeker forms we still wait for months and months. I feel like that is the reason why young people give up hope and don’t trust the government at all. Sometimes that leads to young people turning to drugs or gangsterism.”

Scammers impersonation

While the City of Cape Town commonly spreads awareness around the organisation being used in a variety of scams, including housing, electricity and others, the Western Cape Department of Mobility has released a warning for aspiring traffic officials.

In January, the department was made aware of fraudulent activities involving individuals being scammed into paying fees to attend the provincial Gene Louw Traffic Training College.

“Unscrupulous scammers, operating via social media, falsely claim to represent the college and request payments of R150 for registration forms and a further R3 000 for enrolment,” says Western Cape Mobility Minister, Isaac Sileku.

In late 2024 and early 2025, several individuals, believing they had secured training opportunities, arrived at the college only to find that they had been deceived. A case of fraud has been opened and the department is actively working with law enforcement agencies.

“Gene Louw Traffic Training College emphatically states that no payments are required to secure admission and it will not communicate through social media platforms on recruitment or training opportunities. Members of the public are urged to be vigilant and recognise that any such request is a scam.”

Identifying a scam

Indeed, a career advertising portal offers the following advice on identifying popular scams.

1. The recruiter contacts you, often claiming that they found your resume online. While this alone does not necessarily mean the job is fake, if you are offered the job immediately, asked for unusual information, or notice other warning signs from this list, it could be a scam aimed at stealing your personal details.
2. You receive a job offer right away: without applying for the job, speaking with a hiring manager, or going through an interview, it can be a major red flag.
3. The pay is extremely high: If a job description lists an unusually high salary for the role, it could be a warning sign. Research the company and job further before applying.
4. The schedule seems too flexible: Many career opportunities offer flexible work hours to support a healthy work-life balance. However, if a job seems too flexible, it could be a red flag.
5. Job requirements and descriptions are vague: Legitimate job postings usually include clear, detailed descriptions and specific qualifications. In contrast, fake job postings often have vague requirements.
6. The company requires payment from you: Be cautious of any company, recruiter, or job offer that requires a form of payment from you. Legitimate employers will never require payment for the chance to work.
7. The job promises that you will get wealthy fast: Aim to look into the company’s compensation structure. If you cannot find clear details about how and when you will be paid, it may be prudent to assume that the job is not legitimate and continue your search for genuine opportunities.
8. Communication appears unprofessional: If a job offer email contains poor grammar, awkward syntax, or seems overly casual, it may be worth taking a closer look.
9. Contact information for the employer or company is missing: Fake job postings often lack key contact information or may provide vague details about the organisation. If you notice that important company information is missing, conduct an online search for the company’s website or email address.
10. A company requests confidential information before hiring: When companies hire new employees, it tends to be standard practice to require the completion of tax documents and the submission of bank information for direct deposit, among other processes involving confidential personal information. However, this typically occurs after you have signed an offer and officially started your new role.