Safety institute claims over 200 scammed in fake mining job scheme

The Occupational Health and Safety Institute (OHSI) claims to have uncovered a scam involving fraudsters posing as contractors and employers offering fake mining jobs to unsuspecting members of the public.

OHSI Public Relations Officer, Elezeti Nyambi, said the scammers had been conducting deceptive recruitment drives through online platforms, churches, funerals, and other public gatherings.

In a statement issued in Kitwe on Tuesday, Nyambi said the fraudsters have been falsely claiming to facilitate Medical Fitness Examinations—commonly known as Silicos Exams—while charging unsuspecting individuals a fee.

“The Occupational Health and Safety Institute has, in the first quarter of 2025, recorded over 200 cases of people being scammed in the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces,” Nyambi revealed.

He cautioned the public that OHSI does not have agents who receive money or conduct medical examinations on its behalf.

“OHSI does not accept payment for Medical Fitness Examinations via mobile money. All payments must be made in cash at OHSI cashier offices located in Kitwe, Lusaka, and Solwezi. A receipt is then issued to the payer,” he said.

Nyambi clarified that OHSI conducts medical examinations at its permanent facilities in Kitwe, Solwezi, and Lusaka, and only carries out outstation examinations at an employer’s premises following a formal agreement.

He urged members of the public not to fall prey to scammers, emphasizing that accurate information about OHSI’s operations was readily available.

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