Jobseekers are increasingly becoming targets of sophisticated online recruitment scams, with cybercriminals cloning legitimate government websites and impersonating senior officials to make fake employment offers appear genuine.
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) said the emerging schemes were exploiting the desperation of jobseekers and the credibility of reputable institutions to obtain personal information, identification documents and financial details.
In a public alert, the Authority said scammers were using SMS and social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram, to circulate unsolicited messages advertising non-existent employment opportunities.
According to the CSA, the schemes were becoming more sophisticated, with some perpetrators creating copies of websites belonging to legitimate government agencies and other institutions to give fraudulent recruitment exercises an appearance of authenticity.
The cloned websites, it said, could subsequently be used to conduct phishing attacks or harvest sensitive information from unsuspecting applicants.
The Authority said another emerging tactic involved impersonating recruiters, senior officials or representatives of reputable institutions and advertising highly paid positions, particularly in the security sector.
It cited a post circulating online that falsely claimed to be recruiting personnel for a foreign security and drone operation allegedly linked to the Ghana-Burkina Faso border area.
The CSA also reported recent cases involving fraudulent messages claiming that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) was charging members of the public fees to secure employment.
The development highlights the growing financial and data-security risks facing jobseekers who rely heavily on social media and online platforms to search for employment opportunities.
The CSA therefore urged the public to treat unusually attractive job offers, particularly those involving security, military or specialised technical positions, with caution.
It advised prospective applicants to independently verify the source of any recruitment announcement before providing personal information or responding to requests for payment.
“Do not share personal information, identification documents or financial details with unverified recruiters,” the Authority cautioned.
It also urged the public to be alert to poor grammar, spelling errors and unprofessional communication, which could indicate that a recruitment advertisement was fraudulent.
The CSA said members of the public should also avoid amplifying unverified security-related claims that could create unnecessary fear or confusion.
The Authority encouraged victims and members of the public who encounter suspicious recruitment offers or other cyber incidents to report them promptly to the appropriate authorities, including the CSA and the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
It said it operates a 24-hour Cybersecurity/Cybercrime Incident Reporting Point of Contact (PoC) through which the public can report suspected cybercrimes and obtain guidance on online activities.
Members of the public can call or text 292, send a WhatsApp message to 0501603111 or email [email protected].
