After incidents being reported in both the Eastern and Western Cape this week, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) spoke out against scammers posing as SASSA employees in order to withdraw money fraudulently from social beneficiaries accounts – both in cash and through debit orders.
After incidents being reported in both the Eastern and Western Cape this week, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) spoke out against scammers posing as SASSA employees in order to withdraw money fraudulently from social beneficiaries accounts – both in cash and through debit orders.
In some cases fraudsters use the proof of life modus-operandi. This involves visiting beneficiaries' homes, producing forged SASSA identification cards and informing their targets that they are doing inspections to confirm whether the card holder is still alive.
They then ask for the SASSA card, identity documents and PIN numbers. Once in possession of these details they withdraw money from the accounts via the internet. In some cases, they use these details to initiate unauthorized monthly debit orders on the accounts.
SASSA, in collaboration with the police and other law-enforcement agencies, has started high-level investigations into these scams.
"You should never give out your details to people who come to your home. We do not have any officials tasked to visit people homes and request beneficiary details," said Virginia Petersen, SASSA CEO.
She adds that SASSA conducts its business strictly in marked SASSA offices. If people are in doubt they can verify any details by calling 0800 6010 11 toll free.
Furthermore the SASSA payment card is still valid and there is no need to replace it with another one as some agents might incorrectly claim.
"We call upon the public to work together with SASSA and the authorities in helping to expose these fraudsters by immediately reporting them to the police or SASSA. SASSA remains committed to eliminating any form of fraud or corruption that involves its name and its social grant services," said Petersen.
