Meet Omnistrace, a Scam That Follows a Familiar Pattern

A new WhatsApp scam is targeting South Africans, preying on unsuspecting individuals with promises of easy online jobs.

Omnistrace follows the same deceptive blueprint seen in previous scams like Pixel Turing, Pixel Digital, and Skybound Reach. These operations all share the same characteristics—hastily built websites, fake business addresses, and unsolicited WhatsApp messages offering too-good-to-be-true job opportunities.

Despite their claims, these scammers are not offering real employment. Their goal is simple: to extract money or personal information from victims under false pretences.

How the Scam Unfolds on WhatsApp

Omnistrace initiates contact through WhatsApp, sending messages from a number with the South African country code (+27). The number is visible but unknown to the recipient, making the approach seem slightly more credible at first glance.

The scammer introduces themselves as an HR assistant, claiming that their company urgently needs online workers for a flexible, high-paying role. The message follows a familiar script:

“Actually, our company needs staff for an online job. You do this job in your free time and get your payment at the same time. Can I share the work details and salary information?”

This is the first major red flag—legitimate companies do not recruit employees through unsolicited WhatsApp messages.

When the recipient shows interest, the scammer provides vague job details. They claim the work involves helping merchants rate restaurants and hotels on Google Maps and writing short, positive reviews. They promise payments of R200 to R1 000 per day, supposedly depending on the number of tasks completed.

To make the scheme appear legitimate, they introduce a “demo task”, claiming that the user will receive an upfront payment of R30 for completing it.

This tactic is designed to build trust and make victims believe they are earning money when, in reality, the scam is leading them towards the real trap—either requesting a small payment to unlock “higher-paying tasks” or collecting their banking details under the guise of processing payments.

Strange Questions and Contradictions

If one engages with the scammers, they begin to ask strange and unnecessary questions—one of the most common being about the recipient’s age.

So much for being an HR representative of a company that supposedly recruited this person for a job. If someone actually applied, wouldn’t their age and details already be in the system?

This glaring contradiction exposes the scam’s lack of legitimacy. When challenged about this inconsistency, instead of providing a logical response, the scammers stumble, offering unconvincing excuses such as:

“This is alright, but we contacted a lot of people daily. So how can we remember everyone’s age?”

This response only confirms that Omnistrace is not recruiting from any legitimate database but is simply sending mass WhatsApp messages to random numbers, hoping to hook victims.

The Dubious Omnistrace Website

Beyond the WhatsApp messages, Omnistrace’s website (omnistrace.com) reveals several glaring red flags.

The domain was registered on 17 January 2025, meaning it is brand new. Many scams operate with recently created domains before disappearing once exposed. Further analysis reveals that the registrar is based in Singapore, a common pattern in fraudulent websites.

The listed registrant location is Rhode Island, USA—coincidentally the same location used in the Pixel Turing scam, indicating that this is part of a larger, recycled scam network.

A search on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) database confirms that Omnistrace is not a registered business in South Africa.

Another suspicious claim is the company’s listed office address. According to the website, Omnistrace operates from 4 World Trade Center, a high-profile location that houses multinational corporations like Spotify, Morningstar, and the Port Authority of New York.

To verify this claim, we checked both the New York State and New York City official business databases, and Omnistrace is not registered in either of them.

This further proves that their claim of being a tenant at 4 World Trade Center is completely bogus. No legitimate company operates from such a prestigious address without being officially registered.

Plagiarised Content and AI-Generated Lies

Omnistrace’s website content is another giveaway. Much of it consists of AI-generated text mixed with stolen website copy.

For instance, a comparison of their Services Page shows that large sections of text have been lifted directly from Adapt Media Agency’s website. This is a common practice in scams—they steal legitimate content to appear credible.

If a company is real, why would it need to plagiarise content from other businesses? The answer is simple: Omnistrace does not actually offer any services. It is a front designed to lure people into a scam.

The Growing Problem of WhatsApp Job Scams in South Africa

Since 2024, WhatsApp job scams have been on the rise in South Africa, taking advantage of the widespread use of the platform and the country’s high unemployment rate.

Scammers exploit economic desperation by offering false hope of easy income, making it harder for people to immediately recognise the fraud.

Despite the clear and repeated patterns of deception, neither WhatsApp nor local authorities have taken sufficient action to curb these unsolicited messages. This allows scammers like Omnistrace to continue operating with impunity.

How to Protect Yourself from These Scams

The best way to stay safe is to avoid engaging with these messages altogether. If you receive a message from Omnistrace or a similar scam, do not reply, do not click on any links, and do not provide personal or financial information. Instead, block the sender and report the number.

While the job market in South Africa is tough, a scam is still a scam. Fraudulent schemes like Omnistrace prey on vulnerability, offering nothing but false promises and financial loss in return.

The Final Verdict

Omnistrace is yet another WhatsApp-based recruitment scam, following the same formula seen in previous fraud operations.

It presents fake job offers, provides misleading information, plagiarises content, and attempts to extract either money or sensitive information from victims.

With its WhatsApp messages, hastily built website, and dubious registration details, everything about Omnistrace confirms that it is not a legitimate business.

Until WhatsApp or the authorities take stronger action to stop these scams, vigilance remains the best defence. Recognising these patterns, staying informed, and never engaging with unsolicited job offers via WhatsApp is crucial in protecting yourself and others from falling victim to these schemes.