When most people think of scams, they think of fake banking alerts, phishing emails or fraudulent investment schemes. But today’s scammers know that money isn’t always the easiest way in. Increasingly, they’re targeting people’s hopes instead.
Whether it’s a dream job, a once-in-a-lifetime travel deal, a competition prize or an exclusive opportunity, fraudsters are exploiting trust and urgency to manipulate people into handing over money, personal information, or both. The recent viral fake FlySafair recruitment post, circulated under the title “Must be beautiful”, is a reminder that scams don’t always look like scams anymore.
The post had nothing to do with FlySafair, yet it spread quickly across social media. It highlights an uncomfortable truth: people are far more likely to engage with something that looks appealing than something that appears suspicious. Fraudsters know this and regularly use trusted brands to make scams look legitimate.
“This ‘Must be beautiful’ post was not from us in any way,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. “But it travelled quickly because it appeared credible. That’s exactly how modern scams work. They borrow trust from recognised brands and use that trust to create opportunities that feel genuine. People often think they’re too smart to fall for a scam because they know not to click a suspicious banking link or share an OTP. But today’s scammers aren’t always trying to look like scammers. They’re trying to look like opportunities.”
Scams Have Changed
South Africans have seen several high-profile cases where false identities and manufactured credibility convinced people to trust what they were seeing. Recruitment scams rely on exactly the same principle: creating a sense of legitimacy that encourages people to let their guard down.
“Recruitment scams are particularly effective because they don’t prey on greed; they prey on hope,” says Gordon. “A job opportunity feels personal. It feels urgent. People don’t want to miss out. That emotional pressure is often what prevents them from stopping to verify the details.”
What FlySafair Will Never Do
Understanding how legitimate recruitment processes work can be one of the strongest forms of protection.
FlySafair will never:
- Ask applicants to pay money to process an application, secure an interview or obtain a job.
- Request payment for background checks or medical assessments.
- Conduct formal recruitment processes, interviews or job offers through WhatsApp or SMS.
- Communicate through generic email accounts such as Gmail or Yahoo addresses.
- Offer positions to candidates who have not formally applied through official recruitment channels.
“If someone contacts you claiming to be from FlySafair HR and asks you to pay anything at all, that is not us,” says Gordon. “Do not pay. Do not share your personal or financial information. And please report it.”
Red Flags That Apply to Almost Any Scam
Whether it’s a job offer, an airline promotion, a competition or a special deal, there are common warning signs that consumers should watch for:
- Requests for upfront payments of any kind.
- Unsolicited contact through WhatsApp or SMS, particularly where you are being asked for payment or personal information.
- Emails sent from free webmail services rather than official company domains.
- Messages that create urgency and pressure immediate action.
- Social media accounts that are not verified.
- Opportunities that seem too good to be true.
- Unsolicited offers for products, services, jobs or prizes that you never applied for or expressed interest in.
Protecting Yourself
If you receive communication claiming to be from FlySafair and something doesn’t feel right:
- Visit FlySafair’s official website directly at flysafair.co.za rather than clicking on links in unsolicited messages.
- Verify information through FlySafair’s official website and social media accounts, and make sure you are engaging with the correct official account.
- Never share personal, banking or financial information unless you are certain of who you are dealing with.
- Never make payments to secure employment opportunities.
- Report suspicious accounts and posts to the platform where they appear.
- If you have lost money, report the incident to the South African Police Service.
- For career opportunities, only use FlySafair’s official careers platform at flysafair.co.za/careers.
“Scammers are opportunists, and they are very good at reading the room,” concludes Gordon. “When South Africans are job-hunting, scammers create recruitment scams. When there’s a major sale, they create fake deals. Taking a moment to verify before you act can make all the difference. If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct. Check the official source. And if you’re unsure, don’t engage.”
