Employment scams on the rise in Manica – Mozambique

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Employment scams on the rise in Manica – Mozambique

7:28 CAT | 15 Feb 2018

DW (File photo)

Cases of fake job offers in Manica, central Mozambique, are on the increase, with authorities issuing warnings, hundreds of victims scammed, and ten fraudsters already arrested by the police.

The fraudsters promise young people jobs and good wages in the civil service in exchange for large sums of money, while others guarantee immediate admission to teacher training institutes or to the health sector.

Most of the victims are young graduates looking for their first job. One, speaking to DW Africa on condition of anonymity, says that after finishing grade 12, he contacted an individual who promised him a good job and attractive perks. But he ended up being tricked.

Image result for Promessas de emprego viram burlas em Moçambique

“First, they asked me for five thousand, then told me that something was missing and began to tell several stories, so that amount began to rise until it reached 30,000 meticais,” the young man says.

“In the meantime, they took my documents, plus a copy of the driving license, because they promised me that I would drive and work in a good office. Then they disappeared. Regarding the money, they have not been returned it so far. All I know is that the individual has been arrested.”

Ten detained for fraud

Authorities are worried about an increase in cases of fraud and extortion. Manica provincial police command spokeswoman Elsídia Filipe says that jobs cannot be bought, and warns citizens to be wary of “short-cuts which often end up being expensive. They end up in a situation of fraud, handing over money without return on the promise of employment which never existed”.

Mosambik Elsidia Filipe in Manica — *Elsídia Filipe: “Stop these short-cuts”*

According to Elsídia Filipe, ten scammers with hundreds of victims were arrested in 2017, of whom some are already serving prison sentences.

“This constitutes a crime, punishable under the law. People must keep away from this type of behaviour, under the risk of being held accountable from a legal point of view,” she said.

One of the scammers detained by the police explained how the scheme works.

“First, I contacted one of my friends here in the city told him there was a vacancy. In fact, he ended up agreeing to take it. He gave me money. About 28,000 meticais (about 370 Euros). This friend of mine then went to another trusted friend of his, saying ‘I’ve got a position’. Then another came to talk to me and I received another 19,000 (about 250 Euros). And the last person, I charged some more. All in all, I made about 50,000 meticais (about 660 Euros),” he said.

Source: Deutsche Welle