The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has warned the public against a fake job vacancy advertisement currently circulating on social media, including the platform Threads, that uses the council’s name and branding to appear legitimate.
In a statement on 19 September, Astro Awani reported that MBPP said the advertisement was false and was not issued or published officially by the council.
“The public is advised not to trust or share the advertisement and not to take any action based on its contents, including scanning QR codes or bar codes included in it,” MBPP said.
The council also cautioned people against providing personal or financial information, clicking links, or filling in online forms linked to the fraudulent advertisement. MBPP said anyone with doubts about job vacancy announcements using its name should contact the Human Resource Management Division directly at 04-259 2115, 04-259 2311, or 04-259 2240 for verification.
“MBPP also requests that the public does not reshare the advertisement, and refers directly to MBPP through official channels if they have any concerns regarding job vacancy announcements using the MBPP name,” the statement read.
The incident follows a broader pattern of fake job advertisements using government agency branding to deceive job seekers across Malaysia. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) issued a similar warning in April after fake ads using its logo and QR codes went viral, while the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) flagged comparable scams in May. Lembaga Tabung Haji also denied fraudulent recruitment posters using its name in August.
According to Royal Malaysia Police data, 1,537 part-time job scam cases were reported between January and March 2026, resulting in RM31.8 million in losses. The figure follows 8,911 cases and RM222 million in losses recorded in 2025.
Scammers commonly use official logos, images of uniformed personnel, and professional-looking designs to make fraudulent advertisements appear convincing. Victims are typically directed to apply via QR codes or phone numbers, where they may be asked to provide personal information or make payments.
MBPP urged the public to verify any job vacancy claims through official channels before taking action, and to report suspicious advertisements to the relevant authorities.
