Check a job advert before sharing money or documents.

Stop if the advert asks for

• An application, placement, interview, training or uniform fee before employment
• Your banking PIN, password, OTP or card details
• Payment to release a stipend or salary
• An ID copy through an unverified personal address or chat account
• Immediate action with no time to verify the employer

Verify the vacancy in five steps

1. Type the employer’s real website address yourself.
2. Find its careers page or official government portal.
3. Match the title, reference number, location and closing date.
4. Check the sender’s full email domain and official contact details.
5. Apply only through the route in the verified advert.

Government-job checks

Confirm public-service posts in the current DPSA circular or the advertising department’s official portal. Copy the reference number exactly and never pay for a Z83 form. Start from the official government-jobs hub.

If you already shared information

Stop contact, preserve messages and payment records, notify your bank immediately if financial details were involved, and report the matter through the appropriate South African law-enforcement or fraud channel. Change exposed passwords and do not reuse them.

Questions people ask

Should I pay to apply for a job?

No legitimate employer should charge an application, interview, placement or uniform fee before you start.

Is a WhatsApp job advert always fake?

Not always, but verify it on the employer’s official website and use the official contact details—not only the number in the message.

When should I share my ID?

Only when a verified recruitment process genuinely requires it, through the secure channel named by the employer. Do not publish it on your CV.

How do I check a recruiter?

Confirm the recruiter and vacancy through the company’s official website, switchboard or known career portal. Check that the email domain matches the real organisation.

More free guides

Z83 form guide · How to write a CV · Free CV template · Cover letter · Interview questions · Learnerships · Salary and offers · Job-scam checks · CV vs job ad review

Want the full working kit?

The SA Job Kit includes the job market playbook, 4 editable Word CVs, cover letter frameworks, interview answers and salary scripts in Rand. See what’s inside.