Law enforcement authorities in Mpumalanga have sounded the alarm over a growing wave of fraudulent phone calls targeting job seekers, with scammers posing as police recruitment officials and demanding money in exchange for positions within the service.
Fraudsters demand cash for fake police jobs
Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi issued a stern warning to residents after multiple reports surfaced of individuals receiving calls from criminals pretending to represent the Human Resource Management Recruitment Section of the police service. The callers reportedly pressure unsuspecting members of the public into handing over money, falsely promising them employment within the organisation.
Mkhwanazi emphasised that no legitimate recruitment process within the police service requires any form of payment. All applications and hiring procedures are conducted entirely free of charge through official channels, and no candidate will ever be asked to pay for consideration.
"No payment is required to be considered for employment within the organisation. All recruitment processes are free and conducted through official channels."
The warning comes amid widespread unemployment across the province, which makes desperate job seekers particularly vulnerable to such schemes. Criminals have increasingly exploited this desperation by crafting elaborate scams that mimic official recruitment procedures.
How to identify and report the scam
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and take note of key indicators that can help distinguish genuine communication from fraudulent contact. One critical detail is that successful applicants are only ever contacted via official landline telephone numbers — never through personal cellphones. Any recruitment-related call originating from a mobile number should immediately be treated as suspicious.
Members of the public who encounter such fraudulent activity or receive suspicious calls are encouraged to report them without delay. Reports can be made by contacting Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Alternatively, information can be submitted anonymously through the My application.
All tip-offs and reports will be handled with the strictest confidentiality, authorities confirmed. Mkhwanazi called on communities to share this warning widely to protect those who may be targeted by these unscrupulous criminals.
South Africa's persistently high unemployment rate creates fertile ground for recruitment scams, making Mpumalanga residents especially vulnerable to criminals exploiting their desperation for work. These schemes erode public trust in legitimate government hiring processes and cause direct financial harm to individuals who can least afford losses. As digital communication expands, such fraud is likely to increase nationwide, placing greater pressure on law enforcement and requiring sustained public awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable job seekers.
