Be aware of social grant theft

POLOKWANE – The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has urged social grant beneficiaries to be aware of illegal airtime deductions and loans from their accounts.

This urgent notice followed after Sassa received numerous complaints from people, some of whom were Sassa beneficiaries, about companies that offered them financial service products under the pretext that they were working with, or were endorsed by Sassa.

Zwannda Kutama, senior communications manager at Sassa in Polokwane, said Sassa had no relationship with, nor did they endorse any company that offered financial products such as micro loans, cell phone airtime, insurance products including life and funeral covers, and clothing accounts.

“Sassa warns its beneficiaries against falling prey to these scams and other ambush marketing tactics through the use of cell phone technology. We also call on grant recipients to be vigilant about insurance and cell phone airtime offers made to them,” said Kutama.

Sassa warned their beneficiaries not to do the following:

• Do not use your Sassa payment card as security for loans and to purchase any financial service products.

• Do not respond to cellphone SMSes where companies are offering products such as airtime and other financial products against your Sassa payment card.

• Do not authorise deductions to be made against your card except for the one funeral policy deduction, which Sassa has allowed in terms of the legislation.

Sassa’s safety hints to their beneficiaries:

• Keep your card and pin safe at all times and be careful who you give your card and pin to.

• Note that your Sassa payment card is for drawing your grant money only, and not to be used as security for loans.

• Report any Sassa official who is involved in the sale or promotion of any products that requires payment through the Sassa payment card.

Beneficiaries whose accounts were unlawfully debited should lodge a dispute by calling the customer care number at 0800 60 01 60.