In South Africa, the harsh reality of poverty can be seen on every corner. For most people in our country, going to bed with an empty stomach has become the norm, while other people may find themselves struggling to feed their families. Because of this, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) was established. The aim of Sassa is to pay out social grants to people who require it most, however, there are some individuals who scam Sassa beneficiaries out of their money. To prevent this from happening to you, educate yourself about the latest Sassa scam and ways that South Africans can avoid it.
Here is the latest Sassa scam:
The latest Sassa scam in South Africa involves beneficiaries being called by someone pretending to be an official, demanding personal details as well as their secret pin number. Some beneficiaries have said that these scammers have offered them free food parcels and early payments, before asking them for their personal details. Beneficiaries who became victims of this scam had their social grant payouts stolen out of their accounts.
While it is not uncommon for a Sassa official to contact a beneficiary, no official will ever ask a beneficiary for their details over the phone. According to Sassa spokesman, Paseka Letsatsi, if there is anything urgent that needs to be discussed with a beneficiary, Sassa will call that beneficiary to their offices. “There is absolutely no way an official is permitted to call a beneficiary and ask them for their personal details including their pin code. We also advise our beneficiaries that they must be extremely careful and remain wary of these scammers.” Letsatsi said.
If you suspect that someone might be scamming you or someone you know, contact the Sassa offices on 0800 60 11 10.