Smart Scam, Close Call

Students nearly duped by sophisticated fake mine jobs

In a startling new scam that reveals just how far con artists are willing to go, a fraudster tricked a Gauteng college into sending students to a Limpopo mine — for jobs that didn’t exist.

How did he do it? 
The scammer’s method was alarmingly clever: he edited the Google Knowledge Panel — the panel that appears on the top right-hand side of Google search results — to make it seem as though he was affiliated with Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine (SBPM).

The fraudster replaced the mine’s landline number with his own cellphone number. Using this deceptive contact, he convinced the management of P&T Training Educational Institution in Germiston that he could secure nine-month internships for students in mechanical and electrical engineering at SBPM. The college, believing the opportunity to be genuine, assisted students with medical clearances and instructed them to meet the man near the mine to begin their placements.

One student suspected trickery… 
One student explained how things unravelled: “He told us to meet him at Moruleng Mall to do medicals and get certificates. Then he asked each of us to transfer R550 to a TymeBank account. That’s when we realised something wasn’t right — no big company uses that bank.”

Fortunately, no students paid the money before suspicions were raised. SAPS Mogwase was called to the scene at the mall, but since no money changed hands, no criminal case was opened. The students — all from Wadeville near Germiston — were safely returned home after P&T Training launched an urgent internal investigation.

In a press statement, P&T Training said: “We incurred legitimate placement costs, including medicals, based on what appeared to be a formal agreement. As soon as the students reported confusion at the mine, we acted swiftly and have now handed the matter over to our legal team.”

Meanwhile, Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine has issued a stern warning to the public. “SBPM does not charge for jobs, medicals, or certifications,” said communications manager Nombulelo Mazabane. “All legitimate job listings are only available through our official website. We urge the public to be vigilant and report suspicious activities immediately.”

The mine is conducting its own investigation and working with authorities to trace the individual behind the scam.