News / Local
Zimbabwe Prisons warns trainee hopefuls over recruitment scammers
08 Dec 2024 at 09:51hrs | Views
Aspiring job seekers have fallen victim to a new wave of scams involving fraudsters impersonating recruitment officers from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS). The con artists have been soliciting payments under the guise of facilitating entry into fictitious recruitment programs.
Using email and WhatsApp as their primary communication platforms, the scammers request payments for "admission fees," claiming these are part of the recruitment process.
In one instance, seen by Sunday News, a victim was instructed to send US$20 via EcoCash to secure a medical check-up scheduled for January 5, 2025, at the ZPCS 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 fraudulent message read.
ZPCS Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Chief Correctional Officer Garainashe Moyo expressed concern, noting that this was not the first occurrence of such scams.
“A few months ago, we dealt with similar cases involving fake advertisements. Unfortunately, some people continue to fall for these scams, losing their money in the process," Moyo said.
He revealed that victims have lost varying amounts, as the fraudsters have no fixed fee for their schemes. “This issue is serious, and we have recently issued a statement through our national Public Relations Officer to warn the public."
ZPCS national Public Relations Officer (PRO) Meya Khanyezi confirmed the alarming trend in a statement, warning that scammers are exploiting social media to deceive job seekers.
“The ZPCS urgently calls for public awareness regarding a disturbing increase in fraudulent calls for recruitment being perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as ZPCS officials," she said.
The statement emphasized that the ZPCS 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. We do not engage third parties in our official recruitment processes," PRO Khanyezi said.
The ZPCS urged the public to ignore messages from unverified platforms, stating that all authentic recruitment announcements are made through established mainstream media.
“We strongly encourage citizens to consult the nearest ZPCS offices to confirm the legitimacy of any recruitment calls. Let there be no doubt, we are committed to protecting job seekers from these criminal activities, and we need everyone's cooperation to combat them," Khanyezi added.
Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public, many have already been duped, causing financial loss and emotional distress. The ZPCS is urging prospective applicants to exercise caution and verify recruitment claims through official channels.
Authorities are now working to track and apprehend the fraudsters behind these elaborate schemes.
Using email and WhatsApp as their primary communication platforms, the scammers request payments for "admission fees," claiming these are part of the recruitment process.
In one instance, seen by Sunday News, a victim was instructed to send US$20 via EcoCash to secure a medical check-up scheduled for January 5, 2025, at the ZPCS 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 fraudulent message read.
ZPCS Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Chief Correctional Officer Garainashe Moyo expressed concern, noting that this was not the first occurrence of such scams.
“A few months ago, we dealt with similar cases involving fake advertisements. Unfortunately, some people continue to fall for these scams, losing their money in the process," Moyo said.
He revealed that victims have lost varying amounts, as the fraudsters have no fixed fee for their schemes. “This issue is serious, and we have recently issued a statement through our national Public Relations Officer to warn the public."
ZPCS national Public Relations Officer (PRO) Meya Khanyezi confirmed the alarming trend in a statement, warning that scammers are exploiting social media to deceive job seekers.
“The ZPCS urgently calls for public awareness regarding a disturbing increase in fraudulent calls for recruitment being perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as ZPCS officials," she said.
The statement emphasized that the ZPCS 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. We do not engage third parties in our official recruitment processes," PRO Khanyezi said.
The ZPCS urged the public to ignore messages from unverified platforms, stating that all authentic recruitment announcements are made through established mainstream media.
“We strongly encourage citizens to consult the nearest ZPCS offices to confirm the legitimacy of any recruitment calls. Let there be no doubt, we are committed to protecting job seekers from these criminal activities, and we need everyone's cooperation to combat them," Khanyezi added.
Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public, many have already been duped, causing financial loss and emotional distress. The ZPCS is urging prospective applicants to exercise caution and verify recruitment claims through official channels.
Authorities are now working to track and apprehend the fraudsters behind these elaborate schemes.
Source - The Sunday News
