Durban City Football Club has become aware of a series of fraudulent social media posts and messages falsely advertising junior team trials and soliciting money from members of the public.
These fake posts, which are circulating on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, are unauthorized and have no connection to Durban City FC. The club is taking this matter extremely seriously and is taking active steps to address it.
The scams have manifested in two primary ways:
1. Fake Social Media Trial Advertisements: Fraudulent posts and flyers advertising open junior trials, often requesting registration fees or providing fake contact details.
2. WhatsApp Impersonation: Individuals posing as members of the Durban City FC technical team, contacting players and parents directly via WhatsApp to solicit payments for “guaranteed” trial spots or other false services.
Durban City FC wishes to state categorically:
· All official trials for Durban City FC junior teams are announced ONLY through the club’s official website and verified social media channels.
· The club NEVER solicits payments or registration fees via unsecured methods like WhatsApp or personal bank transfers for trials.
· The club will never guarantee a player a spot in a team in exchange for money.
Action Taken and Public Advice:
The club’s legal team has been instructed to investigate these incidents and will be reporting them to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the relevant social media platforms.
The public is advised to:
· Ignore and report any social media posts or messages about Durban City FC trials that do not originate from the official channels listed above.
· Never send money to anyone claiming to represent the club via WhatsApp, SMS, or other direct messages.
· Verify any suspicious communication directly through the club’s official contact details on our website.
Durban City FC remains committed to the development of young talent in a safe, transparent, and ethical manner. We thank our supporters and the public for their vigilance.
