A social media syndicate targeting potential student nurses in the Eastern Cape continues to torment Lilitha College of Nursing.
This after the scammers allegedly opened a Facebook and WhatsApp accounts where they offer applicants admission.
The department of health has since issued a warning to the public about the scam and urged students to never fall in the trap of paying large amounts of money to secure spaces.
Departmental spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said those who are interested in pursuing nursing studies at Lilitha College of Nursing, whose main campus is in East London, need to be careful that they do not fall victim to the scam.
“The scammers are targeting unsuspecting applicants,” said Kupelo.
“This scam has been identified through a fake Facebook page created under the name of the department and a WhatsApp group operated by individuals who are purporting to be representing the department, offering potential students free admission at Lilitha Nursing College.”
Kupelo further urged members of the public not to pay monies for positions advertised by the department.
He said people should know that government vacancies and other training opportunities are not for sale.
“We advise members of the community to ignore the fake page, and we have also noted a cellphone number connected to these scams.
“The department is currently working with law enforcement agencies in tracking down these alleged scammers and we would like to implore members of the community to contact their nearest police station.”
Warning by consumer commission
Meanwhile, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) revealed that there is a spike in schemes and scams that leave South Africans poorer. These include con artists impersonating companies, investment and financial scams and pyramid schemes.
The commission said an issue that frustrates regulators is that scam victims are coming forward to report them too late or not at all.
Spokesperson Phetho Ntaba said scammers also have tricks to vanish once the commission initiates investigations.
“To be sure one is browsing the correct site, one must consider going out of the website which enticed them and follow the brand’s website directly. That will ensure the brand owners are really behind the information about their product,” said Ntaba.
