How to Identify Job Scams in South Africa (2026 Guide)
Employment fraud is on the rise in South Africa, with thousands of job seekers falling victim to scammers every year. Our free AI-powered tool helps you verify job postings instantly, protecting you from fake recruiters, fraudulent companies, and employment scams targeting South Africans in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and nationwide.
🚨Common Job Scam Red Flags in SA
- ✗Upfront payment requests for "registration," "admin fees," or "training"
- ✗Unrealistic salaries (R30,000+ for entry-level with no experience)
- ✗Poor grammar and spelling in job descriptions
- ✗Generic email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook instead of company domain)
- ✗WhatsApp-only interviews with no video or phone calls
- ✗Requesting ID, banking details, or SARS info before formal hiring
- ✗No physical office address or unregistered with CIPC
- ✗"Work from home" schemes promising easy money
🛡️How to Protect Yourself
- ✓Use CheckJobScam to verify every job posting
- ✓Verify company registration on CIPC website
- ✓Check for professional website with company domain email
- ✓Never pay for job opportunities or interviews
- ✓Research on Google and HelloPeter for company reviews
- ✓Trust your instincts - if it feels wrong, it probably is
- ✓Insist on formal interviews (video/in-person, not just text)
- ✓Report scams to SAPS, Hawks, or National Consumer Commission
Why Use CheckJobScam?
CheckJobScam is South Africa's leading free job scam verification tool. Our AI technology has been trained on thousands of real job scams targeting South Africans, making it highly accurate at detecting fraudulent employment offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CheckJobScam really free to use?
Yes, CheckJobScam is 100% free to use with no hidden costs. You can check unlimited job postings without registration, payment, or any strings attached. Our mission is to protect South African job seekers from employment fraud, and we believe everyone deserves free access to this protection.
How accurate is the job scam detection?
Our AI analyzes job postings against thousands of known scam patterns with approximately 95% accuracy. The system identifies red flags like suspicious payment requests, unrealistic promises, poor language quality, and other indicators specific to South African job scams. However, we always recommend using your own judgment and verifying companies through official channels like CIPC registration.
What should I do if I've been scammed by a fake job posting?
If you've fallen victim to a job scam, take these steps immediately:
- Report to authorities: File a report with SAPS or the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Unit
- Contact your bank: If you've shared financial information or made payments, alert your bank immediately
- Report to National Consumer Commission: They handle fraud complaints
- Preserve evidence: Keep all screenshots, emails, WhatsApp messages, and transaction records
- Warn others: Share your experience on HelloPeter, social media, and job forums to prevent others from being scammed
- Check your credit: Monitor your credit report for any unauthorized activity
How do I verify if a company is registered in South Africa?
Visit the CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) website at cipc.co.za and search for the company name or registration number. Legitimate South African companies must be registered with CIPC. You can also check if the company has a valid tax clearance certificate and a physical office address. Be wary of companies that refuse to provide registration details or claim to be "too new" to be registered.
Can I check job postings from WhatsApp or screenshots?
Yes! CheckJobScam accepts both text input and screenshot uploads. Simply upload a screenshot of the WhatsApp message, social media post, or any other job advertisement, and our AI will analyze the image to extract and verify the content. This is especially useful for job scams circulating on WhatsApp, Facebook, and other platforms where you can't easily copy text.
Don't Become a Victim of Employment Fraud
Check any suspicious job posting above - verification takes only 30 seconds
Join 50,000+ South Africans protecting themselves from job scams
Trusted by job seekers in:
Johannesburg • Cape Town • Durban • Pretoria • Port Elizabeth • Bloemfontein • Polokwane • Nelspruit • East London • Kimberley • Pietermaritzburg • Rustenburg