Claim: Ghana Immigration Service is recruiting for the 2025 recruitment cycle
Source: Viral WhatsApp message
Verdict: Hoax
Researched by Samuel Nii Adjetey
A WhatsApp message with a phishing link claims the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has opened applications for its 2025 recruitment cycle.
The message provides a shortened URL with “Apply Now” instructions, which indicates that interested applicants should be Ghanaians between the ages of 18-45.
A screengrab of message being shared via WhatsApp platforms
This fact-check report seeks to verify the authenticity of the post.
Fact-Check
To verify the claim made in the post, GhanaFact ran a step-by-step analysis on the website to test the application process for the alleged recruitment.
Upon accessing the website, users are requested to complete an initial process to qualify for the recruitment process. The site bears a heading: “Ghana Immigration Service is Hiring” and shows a prominent image of GIS officers on parade.
Screenshot from the landing page
The website also displays the official GIS logo alongside the seal of the presidency aiming to prove its legitimacy.
The first form requests basic personal data, such as name, mobile number, email, year of birth and gender, and then it instructs users to press an “apply” button.
Screengrab of the homepage of the website
On the next page, users are asked “HOW OLD ARE YOU?” with a number of dropdown options after which they are to click an “apply” button.
Upon completion, the website generates a message displaying the applicant’s name indicating the acceptance of information. The final step instructs applicants to share the application portal link with five WhatsApp groups or 15 individual friends by clicking the “SHARE” icon.
A progress bar labelled “SHARE 0%” tracks the sharing activity and promises automatic redirection to the “SUBMIT” page once the bar is full.
After completing this step, users are assured of an SMS from GIS confirming their successful application.
This sharing requirement is a common tactic used in phishing schemes to widen the reach of fraudulent campaigns while maintaining the illusion of legitimacy.
A screengrab of the form after users provide their personal information
To verify the link’s authenticity, GhanaFact ran it through virustotal.com, a security website that scans links and files for malicious codes. The scan classified the link as malicious and phishing.
Proofpoint.com defines phishing as “a common type of cyber attack that targets individuals through email, text messages, phone calls, and other forms of communication.
“A phishing attack aims to trick the recipient into falling for the attacker’s desired action, such as revealing financial information, system login credentials, or other sensitive information,” it adds.
Using WHOIS information on the domain name -abasiafon.github.io- reveals that the website has the following details:
- Registered on March 8, 2013
- Updated on February 9, 2023
- Expires on March 8, 2025
The domain owner employed the services of MarkMonitor Inc., a Corporate Domain Management and consultancy company.
A screenshot of the original information about the phishing link
GhanaFact’s further checks revealed that the GIS has not posted information on its official communication channels (Facebook, X , and website) about any recruitment process.
However, the GIS has previously flagged recruitment scams on their Facebook page, here and here.
Verdict
From the findings above, the WhatsApp message claiming that Ghana Immigration Service is accepting applications for the 2025 recruitment cycle is a HOAX.
