How to Report SASSA Fraud & Avoid Common Scams in 2024

SASSA Fraud

With the increasing number of SASSA beneficiaries, different types of SASSA fraud are also increasing daily, which happens with beneficiaries. If you are the victim of the SASSA scam and someone steals your SASSA social grant using your details then you need to report this issue immediately to SASSA. SASSA receives daily reports indicating that beneficiaries are victims of various types of fraud.

In this article, we will discuss the common types of scams that SASSA applicants experience, and the immediate steps they should take to protect their SASSA grants from scammers. We will discuss how scammers access your personal information to steal your grant and how to protect your grant from them.

Common Types of SASSA Frauds

There have been various types of SASSA fraud reported over the years. SASSA also introduced new strict policies to reduce these scams to ensure that they distribute the grants between genuine beneficiaries. Scammers use different tricks to steal your details and easily asses your SRD R350 grant and other grants. Some of the common tricks are discussed below:

1. Fake SMS and Emails

This is the most common trick used by scammers. In this trick, scammers send fake SMS or Emails to the SASSA beneficiaries pretending to be from SASSA. Mostly they make urgent situations and claim that your grant is at risk. They ask for your personal information for “Verification”. In panic situations, most beneficiaries share their personal information with them. By sharing their personal information they put their grant at risk.

2. Fake Phishing Websites or Apps

Fake Phishing Websites or Apps SASSA Frauds

Scammers create fake websites or apps that look similar to the official SASSA website. By logging in on those websites, you share your login credentials with the scammers, which they can use to access your social grant account on the official SASSA website.

3. Scam Phone Calls

Scammers call SASSA grant beneficiaries and claim to be SASSA officials. They will trick you by fabricating stories and extracting your personal information like login details and SASSA card PIN.

4. Illegal Loan Schemes

SASSA beneficiaries may also receive illegal loan offers in which the scammer may ask for your SASSA card as collateral. If you give your SASSA card to them they may withdraw your social grant or use it to purchase anything. They can also charge you a large monthly amount in the name of loan repayment.

5. ATMs or Paypoints Scams

ATMs and Paypoints scams are common in South Africa. Scammers observe you while using the ATM or collecting your social grant from paypoints. They offer fake assistance or steal your card while you are distracted. That is why never accept any kind of help from strangers at ATMs or pay points and carefully enter your PIN in the ATM.

6. Impersonation Scams

Scammers may impersonate SASSA representatives and ask beneficiaries to meet in person or share personal information over the phone. Always verify their identity by contacting SASSA and never trust anyone without verifying their identity.

7. Application Assistance Scams

Scammers run campaigns on WhatsApp and other social media channels in which they offer assistance in applying for SASSA social grants. Don’t take assistance from such people and never share your details with them. They aim to steal your grant by collecting your personal information. The SASSA application process is a simple method and you can apply by yourself.

8. Fake SASSA Job Alerts

Scammers advertise fake job openings in SASSA, in which they target the general people. They ask applicants to pay “Application” fees. Legal job openings in SASSA do not require any “Application” fees and SASSA always advertises job openings on their official website.

Above are the few most common SASSA scams, but there are also other types of scams as the scammers always adopt new tactics. The important thing to understand is that never share your details with anyone. If scammers don’t have your details then you will be safe from any type of scams.

How to Report SASSA Frauds

If you are already scammed or someone has tried to scam you then you must report the incident to secure your social grant and block the scammer’s access. You can report the scam directly to SASSA, the post office, the police, and national anti-corruption. Follow the steps below to report the SASSA scam that happened to you.

Step 1: Report the fraud to SASSA

First of all, you need to report the fraud to SASSA directly. You can contact SASSA through their Toll-free number “0800 60 10 11” or visit your nearest SASSA office. Explain the fraud incident that happened to you to the SASSA official. The SASSA officer will ask for your ID number, phone number, and additional documents to verify your identity. Once, the SASSA representative verifies your identity, they will block the scammer’s access to your grant and explain the next steps to restore your social gant.

Step 2: Report the SASSA Fraud to the Post Office

Once you report the fraud to SASSA, make sure that your banking details or card details are not compromised. If your card details or bank details are also compromised then you need to report the fraud to the Post office as well. You need the following documents to report the scam to the Post Office:

SASSA fraud affidavit form. (You can get it from the SASSA office or post office).
Copy of your ID card. (Front and Back both)
Copy of SASSA gold card. (Fron and Back both)

Collect the above documents and submit them to your nearest post office. You can also send documents to the post office via email at “[email protected]”. After your report, the post office will block the scammer’s access to your account, and if needed they will block your card also to protect your grant.

Step 3: Report the SASSA Scam to the South African Police Service (SAPS)

You can report the SASSA scam to South African Police Services if you think that your details can be used in any kind of criminal activity. Visit your nearest Police station to file a formal report for your safety. SAPS will investigate the matter and take legal action.

Step 4: Report to National Anti-Corruption

You can take one more safety measure by reporting the incident on the Nation Anti-Corruption Hotline “0800 701 701”. You can also use this option if your issue is not resolved by the reporting at SASSA or the Post office. This department is specially established to handle corruption and fraud-related cases and it is managed by the Public Service Commission.

What if My SASSA Phone Number Changed

If your SASSA number is changed without your permission then you need to report this issue online by following the steps below:

Visit the SASSA Official website to report unauthorized cell phone number changes.
Enter your South African ID number in the column.
Click on the “Submit” button.

After clicking on the submit button, your report will be submitted to the SASSA regarding unauthorized phone number change. You can also contact SASSA via the Helpline or by visiting the office to report this issue.

How to Avoid SASSA Fraud

You can avoid any kind of SASSA scam in the future by following the below tips:

Complete the SASSA biometric verification to secure your social grant from fraud.
Stay informed related to the latest scams. Follow the SASSA official channels to stay updated.
Make sure to not respond to any unsolicited calls, messages, or emails claiming to be from SASSA. Remember to only respond to official communication from SASSA.
Do not share your ID number, PIN, or other details with anyone. Only share your details if you were communicated from official SASSA channels.
Secure your documents like ID cards, social grant documents, receipts, and other important documents in your locker. In case of loss or stolen, report it to the police and SASSA.
Do not accept any unexpected offers like additional benefits or grants from any unofficial channel.
Check your SASSA account statement regularly. If note any suspicious transaction or activity then immediately report the issue to your bank and SASSA.
Only use official channels to contact SASSA. Do not use any unofficial website, phone number, or third-party services.
Make sure that your contact details are updated so that you can receive notification from SASSA regarding your social grant.
If you see any fraudulent activity then report it to SASSA immediately. It can save you and others from further damage.
Do not accept any illegal loan offers in which your SASSA card will take as collateral.
Do not take help from any stranger at ATMs or pay points.

SASSA Frauds FAQs

SASSA blocks any fraudulent grant access within a few days after you report the fraud case to SASSA. It may take more time if the case is complex.

You can report fraud to SASSA by calling their helpline number “0800 60 10 11” or visit your nearest SASSA office.

You should contact the National Anti-Corruption hotline if your SASSA fraud case is not resolved by SASSA, the post office, or the police station.

You should report the fraud case to the post office if your banking details or card details are compromised.

To protect yourself from SASSA scams, never share your personal information with anyone, be cautious of unsolicited communications, and verify the identity of any individual claiming to be associated with SASSA before sharing any details.

SASSA Fraud Conclusion

SASSA beneficiaries need to be updated and safe from the common types of SASSA frauds and scams that target their social grants. By understanding these fraudulent tricks and taking necessary precautions, such as not sharing personal information and reporting any suspicious activities, beneficiaries can protect themselves from falling victim to SASSA fraud. Additionally, immediately reporting any fraudulent incidents to SASSA, the Post Office, the police, or national anti-corruption authorities is important to save the social grant.

How to Report SASSA Fraud & Avoid Common Scams in 2024

SASSA Fraud

Common Types of SASSA Frauds