Sassa warns against latest scam
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) warns social grants beneficiaries not to fall into a trap by “scammers and fraudsters” spreading false information and fake news.
LIMPOPO – These fraudsters, which may be money lenders, may pretend to be working with Sassa or operate in disguise as SASSA officials.
“SASSA’s current payment card is valid until end of the year, which is until 31 December. Beneficiaries must report to the police any person impersonating a money lender or Sassa official and demanding social grants payment cards, pin-codes and IDs, claiming the contrary or offering beneficiaries another card.”
When a beneficiary gives consent to the money lenders by signing a contract it is no longer regarded as a fraud but an agreement between the lender and the beneficiary and this leaves Sassa with no power to protect the beneficiary from illegal deductions, the agency warns.
“Sassa also does not offer loans, airtime or electricity transactions. All Sassa services are free and rendered at designated and known offices. The green-coloured card issued to some beneficiaries is not a Sassa social payment card and it remains unknown as to how it functions. The only valid method of payment for social grants is a Sassa-branded payment card obtained only from Sassa offices,” a statement received from Sassa stated.
For more information contact the Toll Free number 0800 60 10 11 from Mondays to Fridays during working hours, 08:00 to 16:00.
