Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Check Point Desk
IT seems no matter how old a trick is, people will always continue falling for it.
Of late, sophisticated online recruitment scams — operating primarily through WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook — have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of desperate job seekers across the country being duped.
Fraudsters, posing as human resources personnel or legitimate recruitment agencies, are systematically defrauding victims by demanding upfront “registration fees” for non-existent jobs.
These schemes are meticulously designed to steal money, harvest personal information and facilitate identity theft.
To gain trust from their victims, the scammers often impersonate well-known companies or professional recruiters.
They mainly target unemployed youths, recent graduates and informal workers, whom they lure with fictitious vacancies promising quick pay, flexible hours and remote work.
Some are even attracted through posters on streetlight poles or buildings advertising jobs such as security guards, retail staff, general hands and especially domestic helpers in affluent suburbs.
The “pay-to-play” trap
The scam typically begins with an unsolicited message or an invitation to a job-themed social media group.
Once engaged, victims are pressured to pay “commitment” or “processing” fees ranging from US$10 to US$50 to “secure” employment.
Investigations by The Sunday Mail Society revealed that several WhatsApp-based job channels have been key conduits for these operations.
Victims identified various channels (names supplied) as being involved in such practices.
These platforms routinely circulate advertisements for high-paying positions.
Once applicants engage, they are funnelled into private chats and coaxed to pay “registration” or “processing” fees.
Most victims interviewed reported failing to secure employment after making payments.
One channel was reportedly linked to a foreign WhatsApp contact +92 320 9372 122 (Pakistan), raising further concerns about its legitimacy.
Victims also reported being redirected to hotzimbabwejobs.com, a website that allegedly serves as a funnel to extract personal details and fees.
“I was told the job was already approved and all that was left was registration,” said Tendai (full name withheld), a Harare resident who lost US$30.
“Once I sent the money, the so-called human resources officer stopped responding and later blocked me.”
Fraudsters often create multiple groups with names carefully chosen to give them a semblance of legitimacy through referencing non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private companies and even Government departments.
Within these groups, administrators share polished job adverts, contrived testimonials and screenshots of alleged payments to convince members.
Applicants are then moved to private chats and asked to pay fees via mobile money platforms or personal bank accounts.
In some cases, victims are pressured into repeated payments for uniforms, background checks or contract processing before recruiters disappear.
Warnings/expert advice
Harare-based recruitment consultant Vengai Danha emphasised that legitimate employers do not charge job seekers.
“Any organisation asking candidates to pay to be hired is not genuine. Recruitment costs are borne by the employer, not the applicant.”
Several institutions have publicly distanced themselves from online job adverts circulating on social media, warning that scammers are misusing their names and logos.
Government departments and agencies have also cautioned that official recruitment processes are advertised only through formal channels, not private messaging platforms. Recent months have seen fake adverts purporting to recruit members of uniformed security forces flagged by the Government.
Police confirmed receiving reports of online employment scams but noted that many cases go unreported, as victims often lose relatively small amounts.
“People were invited online, particularly in the catering industry, and told to pay between US$30 and US$40 to secure jobs.
“When job seekers visited the offices, they found them closed and the recruiters’ phone numbers were no longer available. We have always told people not to pay for jobs. Legitimate companies do not ask job seekers for money,” said Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza.
He urged all those who have been duped or coerced into paying recruitment fees to report such organisations or individuals to the police.
The authorities warn that beyond financial loss, victims risk identity theft after submitting personal information such as national identity numbers and academic certificates.
Cybersecurity analysts believe scammers prefer WhatsApp and Telegram because these platforms allow them to operate anonymously and evade detection.
Information and communications technology (ICT) expert Richard Munkuli advised job seekers to verify vacancies through official company websites, recognised recruitment platforms and published contact details — and to avoid any opportunity requiring upfront payment.
“These platforms make it easy to create fake profiles, impersonate companies and shut down accounts once the scam is complete,” explained Munkuli.
Global context
The trend is not unique to Zimbabwe.
It is also pervasive in countries such as the United States.
An American private, non-profit organisation, Better Business Bureau, recently found that recruitment scams caused indirect losses of US$2 billion annually.
High inflation, rising expenses, unemployment and desperation were cited as key factors driving individuals into the hands of fraudsters.
