Job seekers in Bloemfontein and surrounding areas have been urged to exercise caution following reports of a job scam targeting applicants for vacancies at the Mangaung Metro.

The municipality issued a warning after becoming aware of scammers posing as municipal officials and offering jobs in exchange for money. The scam came to light after a recent round of vacancies closed last Friday (3/5), said the metro spokesperson, Qondile Khedama.

One applicant received a suspicious phone call from an individual claiming to be Mr Thabang Mpeli, a purported municipal official. The scammer requested a meeting at a car wash in Bloemfontein, presumably to discuss the job application further.

The applicant alerted municipal officials, prompting an investigation into the matter. However, the scammer has not contacted the job seeker since then.

In response to the incident, Khedama emphasised that Mangaung Metro does not engage in practices that require job seekers to pay for employment opportunities.

 He also assured all applicants that correct procedures for shortlisting candidates will be followed, and successful candidates will be contacted through the Human Resource Sub-directorate of the municipality.

To avoid falling victim to job scams, applicants are advised to:

• Verify the legitimacy of any job offers by contacting the relevant department or organisation directly.
• Refrain from providing personal or financial information to unknown individuals or organisations.
• Be wary of job offers that require payment for interviews, processing fees, or training materials.
• Trust their instincts and exercise caution if a job offer seems too good to be true or involves unconventional recruitment practices.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg