This is the scam promise: “All South Africans aged 18-65 years can apply.
“Over 55,000 citizens received R350 fund grant in 2020/2021 due to Covid. In 2023 over 675,000 citizens will receive R700 payment.
“The payments have just began for all applicants. Register to be part of the beneficiaries.”
A click through leads to a list of South Africans claiming to have received the grant through the online application, and asks for personal information, followed by a request to share the message on WhatsApp.
The writer stopped at that point but the fraudsters are no doubt after personal information for the purposes of impersonation fraud or the payment of fees, or both.
A Sassa spokesperson told TimesLIVE: “Sassa requests clients to be vigilant about misleading information, scammers and fraudsters who want to take advantage of the vulnerable and other recipients.”
Here’s a link to the genuine Sassa website.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
Beware new bogus Sassa grant WhatsApp message
Image: Sino Majangaza
It sounds fantastic: apply for your R700 South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant online, with no need to schlep to a Sassa office.
“It’s the quickest way to apply for all bona fide citizens only who needs helping hands in their various activities [sic],” reads a WhatsApp message doing the rounds.
Sadly, it’s a scam.
No, you can’t apply online for a Sassa grant because you have to collect the form. And no, the grant amount hasn’t been radically increased.
The link in the WhatsApp message takes people to a bogus application form.
Beware — Sassa warns of scams making the rounds on social media
This is the scam promise: “All South Africans aged 18-65 years can apply.
“Over 55,000 citizens received R350 fund grant in 2020/2021 due to Covid. In 2023 over 675,000 citizens will receive R700 payment.
“The payments have just began for all applicants. Register to be part of the beneficiaries.”
A click through leads to a list of South Africans claiming to have received the grant through the online application, and asks for personal information, followed by a request to share the message on WhatsApp.
The writer stopped at that point but the fraudsters are no doubt after personal information for the purposes of impersonation fraud or the payment of fees, or both.
A Sassa spokesperson told TimesLIVE: “Sassa requests clients to be vigilant about misleading information, scammers and fraudsters who want to take advantage of the vulnerable and other recipients.”
Here’s a link to the genuine Sassa website.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
READ MORE:
Minister cancels R5bn UIF investment in untested scheme
Reserve Bank gives Postbank another chance to get its house in order
Two Sassa old age grant recipients arrested over R140m tenders after allegedly acting as ‘fronts’
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos