Coca-Cola not recruiting through Facebook ad that asks for 'processing fee'
IN SHORT: An advert claiming that the beverage giant is hiring dozens of workers through a Google Forms link is fake. The form collects sensitive personal details and demands a "processing fee", which are clear signs of a scam.
A job advertisement circulating on Facebook claims that Coca-Cola is hiring packers, cleaners, loaders, movers, drivers and other workers. To apply, users are asked to click the Google Forms link.
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Coca-Cola is a global beverage company headquartered in Atlanta, USA. It produces popular drinks such as Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, and operates in more than 200 countries. In Kenya, its products are manufactured and distributed by Coca-Cola Beverages Kenya.
When we opened the form, it listed several jobs, including an in-service trainee position labelled as permanent. The requirements include a clean criminal record and the ability to work day and night shifts, as well as weekends and public holidays.
There are more jobs at the bottom of the form, with salaries ranging from KSh28,000 (about US$215) to KSh65,000 (about $500). Applicants must be at least 18 years old, speak English and Kiswahili and hold a Form Four certificate; additional skills are considered an added advantage. It also states that work would begin after instructions from a "branch coordinator".
This job ad has also been posted here and here. (Note: See more instances at the end of this report.)
But is it legitimate? We checked.
Fake job ad
The form used in the application process requires sensitive personal information, including applicants' full names, ID numbers, phone numbers and residential details. This is a major red flag, as scammers often collect such data for identity theft and other forms of fraud.
It also requires applicants to pay a "processing fee" of KSh330 (about $2) before completing the application. Legitimate companies, including Coca-Cola, do not charge job seekers to apply for positions.
We checked Coca-Cola's official communication channels, including its Kenya website and verified social media accounts, and found no announcements matching the jobs listed in the viral ad.
Coca-Cola has previously warned the public about fake job adverts circulating online that misuse its name and branding. The company has said that all genuine vacancies are advertised only through its official channels, and that it never charges any processing or registration fees.
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The job advertisement in question is a scam designed to collect money and personal information from unsuspecting job seekers.
Read our guide for tips on how to spot such scams.
This fake job ad has also been published here, here, here, here and here.
