Johannesburg-based advertising agency HelloYes Marketing has issued a public warning about a WhatsApp recruitment scam that is falsely using its name to lure unsuspecting individuals into fraudulent activities.
The company confirmed on Monday, 17 February 2025, that scammers are misrepresenting themselves as HelloYes Marketing recruiters, offering fake job opportunities that ultimately serve to manipulate victims into engaging with specific social media channels.
The scammers are reaching out to people on WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming to have freelance positions with flexible hours and daily earnings.
In reality, the so-called job consists of subscribing to YouTube channels and following WhatsApp groups, under the false promise of payment in return.
HelloYes Marketing responded to this fraudulent activity by releasing a formal statement, which reads:
“It has come to our attention that scammers are circulating fraudulent job offers via Telegram and WhatsApp, falsely claiming to be associated with #HelloYes Marketing.
How the Scam Works:
These fraudsters are enticing individuals with fake job opportunities and asking them to subscribe to specific YouTube accounts, promising payment in return.
Your Action is Needed:
If you have encountered such suspicious messages or individuals, we urge you to report the incident immediately. Your assistance is crucial in helping us combat these fraudulent activities.
Report Incident:
To the South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) on: 011 867 2234 for assistance.
If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to us at [email protected].
Thank you for your vigilance and support.”
The company has also published the same notice on its website (helloyes.co.za), ensuring that the warning is accessible to as many people as possible.
The Same WhatsApp Recruitment Scam, Different Company Name
The HelloYes Marketing scam follows the same pattern as the WhatsApp recruitment fraud that has already misused the names of other South African companies.
Our recent investigations into similar scams revealed that these fraudulent recruiters often alternate between hijacking real business names and creating entirely fake digital marketing firms.
Some of the real companies that have been falsely used in these scams include:
At the same time, scammers have also created fictitious companies, complete with poorly constructed websites filled with AI-generated text and plagiarised content. Some of these include:
The objective remains the same whether a legitimate company name is hijacked or a new one is fabricated.
The scammers claim to offer job opportunities, lure victims into engaging with certain social media platforms, and eventually introduce some form of payment request.
The goal is not employment but rather to manipulate people into performing small tasks that boost engagement for specific social media channels, often part of a larger network of fraudulent digital schemes.
The Recruitment Messages and Fake Employee IDs
Screenshots of messages from this scam reveal that multiple South African phone numbers have been used to distribute these fraudulent job offers.
The recruiters frequently introduce themselves as HR assistants named Lethabo, Amogelang, or Amahle, all claiming to be hiring for HelloYes Marketing.
In several instances, the scammers have even created fake employee ID cards, featuring the HelloYes Marketing logo and generic stock images.
One such fake ID, bearing the name “Lethabo” as an HR assistant, has been widely circulated. When recipients of these messages questioned how their contact details were obtained, one scammer responded with:
“Our company took 10,000 plus numbers from a telecommunication company in South Africa, so you’re also one of them.”
This is an immediate red flag. No legitimate company randomly acquires or purchases phone numbers in bulk for recruitment purposes.
South African data protection laws prohibit businesses from using personal data without proper authorisation, making this claim not only suspicious but also unlawful.
The Underlying Fraud
Beyond using deception to build trust, the scam ultimately serves one of two possible financial fraud tactics.
In some cases, individuals are strung along and encouraged to engage with YouTube channels or WhatsApp groups, but never receive the promised payments.
In others, after completing a few initial “tasks,” the scammers introduce an activation fee or verification charge, falsely claiming that this payment is needed to finalise registration.
There is never a legitimate job offer, and once the scammer has either gained enough unpaid engagement or extracted money from the victim, they disappear.
Protecting Yourself from This Scam
There are key steps to avoid falling for recruitment scams like this one. If a job offer arrives unexpectedly via WhatsApp or Telegram, it should always be verified through official company channels.
Legitimate employers do not recruit candidates by mass messaging strangers through encrypted platforms.
Offers that promise exceptionally high earnings for minimal effort should immediately raise suspicion, as they are a well-known hallmark of online fraud.
Anyone engaging with these scammers should also be wary of inconsistencies in the messages, such as poorly written job descriptions, vague responsibilities, and a refusal to conduct proper interviews.
The most important step in preventing further harm is to report these scams to the relevant authorities.
If you receive a fraudulent recruitment message, report it to law enforcement or consumer protection bodies rather than engaging with the sender.
The Final Verdict
The WhatsApp recruitment scam falsely associating itself with HelloYes Marketing is simply another iteration of a long-running fraud that has targeted multiple South African companies.
The scammers rely on the credibility of real businesses, or in some cases, fabricate fake ones, to lure unsuspecting victims into a false sense of security.
This pattern has been repeated under different names, but the underlying deception remains unchanged.
If you receive such a message, the best course of action is to ignore, report, and warn others. The more awareness is raised, the less effective these scams become.
The post HelloYes Marketing Warns Public of WhatsApp Recruitment Scam appeared first on Political Analysis South Africa.
