The relentless wave of WhatsApp recruitment scams shows no signs of stopping, with Brand Heart Digital Marketing becoming the latest company to have its name hijacked by fraudsters.
As with previous incidents, scammers are masquerading as representatives of a legitimate digital marketing firm, targeting unsuspecting job seekers with fraudulent job offers in an attempt to exploit their trust and financial vulnerability.
Brand Heart Digital Marketing Speaks Out
On Friday, 14 February 2025, Brand Heart Digital Marketing (brand-heart.co.za) took to Facebook to warn the public about the scam, making it clear that they have no involvement in the fraudulent activity. Their official statement read:
“We’ve had many people alerting us to a scam that has raised its ugly head again!
Please don’t get caught…we would never ‘pay’ freelancers to follow WhatsApp channels, share screenshots, or send random photos and poetry. That’s fake marketing – and certainly not a tactic we would ever be involved in.
Be careful out there…the world is full of evil.”
Accompanying the statement was an image urging people to block any WhatsApp messages falsely claiming to be from Brand Heart Digital Marketing’s HR department.
This scenario is eerily similar to numerous other scams previously reported—each time, the fraudsters cold-message potential victims, use the name of a respected company, and fabricate an enticing but completely fake job offer to manipulate their targets.
How the Scam Works
The Brand Heart Digital Marketing scam follows a well-established pattern, which has been used repeatedly against companies in the digital marketing space:
- Unsolicited WhatsApp Contact: Scammers send random WhatsApp messages—often from numbers with the South African country code (+27)—claiming to represent Brand Heart Digital Marketing.
- Fake Freelance Job Offer: They offer easy online work, typically requiring no experience. Tasks usually include:
- Following WhatsApp channels
- Sharing screenshots
- Sending random images or poetry
- False Compensation Promises: Victims are told they will be paid per task, making the offer appear effortless and appealing.
- Bait-and-Switch Tactics: Once a person engages, the scam escalates. Victims are often required to:
- Complete additional tasks to “unlock” payment
- Pay upfront fees or “membership deposits”
- Provide personal or banking details
- Ghosting or Extortion: The fraudsters disappear once the victim has invested time or money, or they pressure them for further payments under the pretext of “processing fees” or “upgrades.”
This pattern of deception has played out across numerous cases, yet many victims continue to be ensnared, particularly those desperate for freelance opportunities.
A Pattern of Exploitation: More Companies Targeted
Brand Heart Digital Marketing is only the latest victim of this type of WhatsApp fraud. Many other digital marketing agencies have been used as fronts for similar scams. We have previously reported on cases involving:
Each of these cases followed an identical script, further proving that this is not an isolated incident but a systemic and recurring fraud affecting businesses and individuals alike.
The Two Sides of the Scam: Who Are the Victims?
This type of WhatsApp recruitment scam leaves two distinct groups of victims in its wake:
- Job Seekers and Gig Workers
- Many individuals, particularly freelancers and remote job seekers, fall for these scams due to the growing demand for work-from-home opportunities.
- Some invest significant time and effort, while others lose money, either by paying fraudulent fees or by unknowingly exposing personal data to scammers.
- Legitimate Companies Like Brand Heart Digital Marketing
- Reputable businesses face serious reputational harm when scammers impersonate them.
- Brand Heart Digital Marketing now joins a growing list of digital firms forced into damage control as fraudsters misuse their name and credibility.
- Despite issuing public warnings, companies remain powerless to stop these scams entirely, as they have no control over the fraudsters using their name.
This cycle of exploitation shows no signs of stopping, creating distrust in legitimate online job offers and freelance work opportunities.
The Final Verdict
The Brand Heart Digital Marketing scam is just the latest in a long line of fraudulent WhatsApp job scams. The tactics remain unchanged, but the targeted businesses continue to shift—and as long as job seekers remain unaware, these scams will persist.
How to Protect Yourself
- Be highly sceptical of unsolicited WhatsApp job offers.
- Legitimate companies do not pay for trivial tasks like following channels or sending screenshots.
- Never send personal details, bank information, or payments to an unknown recruiter.
- Verify job offers directly via the company’s official website or LinkedIn.
Brand Heart Digital Marketing has made it clear: they are not recruiting through WhatsApp.
If you receive such messages, block the sender, report the scam, and warn others—because as long as people fall for it, the scam will continue unabated.
