Online job scams are unfortunately a persistent issue, and it’s crucial to be vigilant when searching for career opportunities. A Facebook page named “Kenya Red Cross Jobs” has been falsely advertising job vacancies, preying on job seekers in Kenya. This page, and the associated website, are not affiliated with the official Kenya Red Cross Society and are designed to defraud individuals.
This deceptive Facebook page, although many posts have been removed, directs users to a website that continues to advertise numerous job openings. It falsely claims to offer 200 positions in each of Kenya’s 47 counties, promising attractive daily wages starting at KSh2,500. The supposed qualifications are minimal, requiring only that applicants be 18 or older, speak a local language (including Kiswahili or English), and have completed secondary education.
However, these promises are too good to be true and share characteristics with many other job scams previously debunked in Kenya. A significant red flag is the request for a “registration fee.” The website explicitly asks for KSh350 to be paid via M-Pesa for registration, a common tactic used by fraudulent schemes.
Spotting the Red Flags of this Job Scam
Several inconsistencies expose this offer as a scam. The website mentions “brief interviews at our USAid Kenya county offices,” a detail seemingly copied from other fake job adverts related to USAid Kenya. This mismatched information immediately raises suspicion.
Furthermore, legitimate job openings at the Kenya Red Cross are always posted on their official website, https://www.redcross.or.ke/careers, and not on external, unofficial platforms. The absence of these job advertisements on the official Kenya Red Cross channels is a clear indicator of fraudulent activity.
Official Kenya Red Cross Society Warning
The Kenya Red Cross Society has issued public warnings against these fake job recruitments. They have explicitly stated that they do not charge any fees at any stage of their recruitment process. In their official communications, they urge the public to be cautious and to rely only on their official career page for genuine job opportunities.
The Kenya Red Cross emphasizes its commitment to equal opportunity employment and reiterates that they never request any payment or security deposit from job seekers, whether during the application process or when inviting candidates for interviews.
To protect yourself from falling victim to such career scams in Kenya, always verify job advertisements against official organization websites. Be wary of requests for registration or application fees, especially when demanded through mobile money transfers. If you encounter suspicious job postings on Facebook, use the “report post” feature to help protect others from these deceptive practices. Stay informed and vigilant in your job search to avoid career scan attempts.
