South African Influencers Under Fire After Fans Trapped in Russia Slave Job

What was supposed to look like a golden opportunity has turned into a nightmare for many South African youths.

Recently, popular influencers like Cyan Boujee, Bontle Hlogi, and Seemah went online promoting a so-called “Russia Job Opportunity” that promised free housing, free schooling, free money, and a better life abroad. Thousands of young people believed it was their ticket out of poverty.

But when some of these hopefuls finally landed in Russia, reality hit them hard.

Instead of comfort and opportunities, their passports were seized upon arrival. Many were locked inside factories, forced to work long hours with toxic chemicals, producing equipment allegedly linked to the ongoing war.

Reports describe them as being treated like modern-day slaves — with zero freedom, poor health conditions, and no way back home.

The South African government has now raised alarm, calling the scheme a major human trafficking and exploitation scam.

Even tech giants like TikTok and Meta (Facebook/Instagram) have begun deleting the fraudulent accounts that spread these job offers.

Let’s be honest — with unemployment biting hard in Nigeria, many youths are desperate for greener pastures. Scammers know this and can easily copy-paste the same trap here.

Once the “influencer stamp” is added, young people may not even question the offer.

But the sad truth? Some influencers don’t do proper research. As long as the bag is heavy, they’ll promote anything — even if it puts their fans in danger.

This Russia “job opportunity” is not an opportunity — it’s a trap. Nigerians, let’s shine our eyes and learn from our South African brothers and sisters.

If an offer sounds too good to be true, especially online, it probably is.