FlySafair has warned its customers about a scam circulating in South Africa that has gone viral on social media, claiming the airline is running a recruitment drive.
The air carrier highlighted a fake FlySafair recruitment post circulating online with the title “Must be beautiful.”
FlySafair stated that this post has nothing to do with the company, yet it had spread quickly across social media.
The airline said that the fake recruitment post preyed on people’s hopes with the promise of a too-good-to-be-true offer.
“Whether it’s a dream job, a once-in-a-lifetime travel deal, a competition prize or an exclusive opportunity, fraudsters are exploiting trust and urgency to manipulate people into handing over money, personal information, or both,” it said.
South Africa’s biggest airline warned that this is a common tactic with modern scams, which exploit the names of well-known brands to give their deceptive claims an air of authenticity to lure people in.
Scams like these typically try to get the victim to click on a suspicious payment link to steal banking details and other personal information.
They may also ask people to enter their details themselves under the guise of a sign-up process.
“This ‘Must be beautiful’ post was not from us in any way,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.
“But it travelled quickly because it appeared credible. That’s exactly how modern scams work. They borrow trust from recognised brands and use that trust to create opportunities that feel genuine.”
“People often think they’re too smart to fall for a scam because they know not to click a suspicious banking link or share an OTP. But today’s scammers aren’t always trying to look like scammers. They’re trying to look like opportunities.”
The airline noted that several high-profile scams have cropped up in recent years, using false identities and manufactured credibility to convince victims to trust what they are seeing.
“Recruitment scams are particularly effective because they don’t prey on greed; they prey on hope,” said Gordon.
“A job opportunity feels personal. It feels urgent. People don’t want to miss out. That emotional pressure is often what prevents them from stopping to verify the details.”
FlySafair said that travellers should be aware that the company will never do certain things, which can help them identify when something may be a scam.
Regarding recruitment drives, FlySafair will never:
- Request payment for background checks or medical assessments.
- Communicate through generic email accounts such as Gmail or Yahoo addresses.
- Ask applicants to pay money to process an application, secure an interview or obtain a job.
- Conduct formal recruitment processes, interviews or job offers through WhatsApp or SMS.
- Offer positions to candidates who have not formally applied through official recruitment channels.
“If someone contacts you claiming to be from FlySafair HR and asks you to pay anything at all, that is not us,” says Gordon.
“Do not pay. Do not share your personal or financial information. And please report it.”
How to protect yourself from scams
FlySafair said that there are common warning signs that consumers can look out for that can be applied to almost any scam.
Most exploitation tactics rely on the fear of missing out (FOMO), and try to create a sense of urgency so individuals make a hasty decision without considering the risks.
The airline said consumers should watch for the following:
- Requests for upfront payments of any kind.
- Social media accounts that are not verified.
- Opportunities that seem too good to be true.
- Messages that create urgency and pressure immediate action.
- Emails sent from free webmail services rather than official company domains.
- Unsolicited offers for products, services, jobs or prizes that you never applied for or expressed interest in.
- Unsolicited contact through WhatsApp or SMS, particularly where you are being asked for payment or personal information.
FlySafair urged individuals who come across suspicious ads and promotions to verify them by checking the company’s official website.
On social media, always make sure the account is verified, as criminals often make fake accounts using the company’s branding.
Additionally, always report suspicious accounts and adverts on the platforms where they appear.
“Scammers are opportunists, and they are very good at reading the room,” said Gordon. “When South Africans are job-hunting, scammers create recruitment scams. When there’s a major sale, they create fake deals.
“Taking a moment to verify before you act can make all the difference. If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct. Check the official source. And if you’re unsure, don’t engage.”
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