mbulelo smpofu
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
SOME prospective job seekers have been duped by scammers posing as recruitment officers from the , who led them into paying varying amounts of money for entry into non-existent training recruitment processes.
The scammers are using a modus operandi where they communicate with their targets via email or WhatsApp soliciting the fees as part of the application process.
In one such exchange seen by Sunday News, the fraudster asks for a fee of US$20 to be paid to an Ecocash number (supplied) before the job seeker can be given the green light to go for a medical check-up on 5 January, 2025 at the ZPCS’s Bulawayo offices.
“Your application was selected and now you need to pay an admission fee of US$20 once you receive this email to complete your application,” the email reads.
In an interview with Sunday News, ZPCS Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Chief Correctional Officer Garainashe Moyo said the recent scams were a continuation of a trend that they had been trying to combat over the last few months.
“This is not the first time that this is happening. A few months ago, we had other fake adverts that a few unsuspecting people fell for. It is unfortunate that some people replied to these emails because after the payment of money, the conmen just disappear and people are left clutching the air,” he said.
Chief Correctional Officer Moyo said the scammers had robbed people of varying amounts of money over the last few months.
“People have lost different amounts of money to these conmen as it seems they have no set fee. The situation is serious and that is why we recently released a statement to address it through our national Public Relations Officer (PRO),” he said.
In the statement, ZPCS national PRO Meya Khanyezi said that fraudulent recruiters were using social media to lure their victims.
“The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) urgently calls for public awareness regarding a disturbing increase in fraudulent calls for recruitment being perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as ZPCS officials. These criminals are targeting job seekers, tricking them into paying fees for non-existing employment opportunities within the ZPCS.
“The ZPCS has observed with great concern, a surge in scammers leveraging social media platforms to disseminate counterfeit recruitment advertisements. Their ultimate aim is to get money from hopeful and unsuspecting candidates, thereby causing financial loss and emotional distress to many,” the statement read.
PRO Khanyezi said despite widespread warnings, more people seemed to be falling prey to the scammers.
“Despite our consistent efforts to educate the public through various media outlets, we regret to inform members of the public that numerous individuals have already fallen prey to these deceitful practices. The brazen nature of these scams is alarming, with some impostors even openly soliciting applicants to attend fake selection exercises. The ZPCS categorically asserts that it does not charge any fees for recruitment, selection or training. All recruitment activities are conducted directly by the ZPCS without imposing any costs on candidates and we do not engage any third parties in the official recruitment processes,” she said.
PRO Khanyezi said the public should disregard any messages sent through unverified platforms, as ZPCS we would only share news on recruitment exercises through reputable media houses.
“We therefore wish to reiterate that all authentic ZPCS recruitment initiatives are publicly announced via established mainstream print and electronic media outlets. Interested applicants are required to respond with written applications, and selections are conducted at designated ZPCS centres across all provinces.
He said in response to this growing threat, they strongly urge the public to independently verify the authenticity of any recruitment advertisements.
“Citizens should consult the nearest ZPCS offices to confirm the legitimacy of any calls for applications to join the ZPCS. Let there be no doubt, we are committed to protecting job seekers from these criminal activities and we need everyone’s help to combat these atrocities.”
daniel chigunwe
