Claim: Application Portal posted a viral link on Facebook, alleging that Air Sierra Leone is recruiting new staff.
Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s investigation proved that the website is malicious. Also, the Head of Media for Air Sierra Leone confirmed that there’s no ongoing recruitment by the airline.
Full Text
In Africa, the promise of employment is a universal aspiration; yet, cybercriminals increasingly weaponise this hope.
Illegitimate or fake recruitment websites have emerged as sophisticated digital traps, exploiting high unemployment rates and the shift to online job-seeking to steal vast amounts of personal information.
These scams do not merely result in financial loss; they expose victims to severe identity theft, turning a job search into a cybersecurity nightmare.
These fraudulent sites are successfully misleading thousands of Africans, demanding vigilance and proactive awareness to combat this digital threat, as they mimic legitimate institutions and exploit the sense of urgency.
A Facebook page, Application Portal, posted a viral website, alleging that Air Sierra Leone is recruiting new employees.
Part of the claim reads: “Air Sierra Leone has opened an application portal to recruit new employees to fill various positions available. Employment is now open. Don’t miss this opportunity. Interested applicants should click the link below and apply.”
The claim has made inroads among social media users, hitting 135 likes and one share.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim due to its mandate to amplify truth.
Verification
Firstly, DUBAWA contacted Augustine Diction Bona, the Head of Media and Communications for Air Sierra Leone, via WhatsApp to verify the claim.
Bona confirmed to DUBAWA that there is no ongoing recruitment by Sierra Leone.
Air Sierra Leone published a disclaimer after DUBAWA’s intervention to verify the claim.
DUBAWA also subjected the website to a website scanner, specifically the Cyber URL scanner, and the result showed that the website had suspicious glitches.
A careful observation of the website showed that it is designed to extort personal information from users.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s investigation revealed that the viral recruitment link shared by the Applicant Portal is fake.
