SASSA in the Western Cape has vowed to go after scammers who are taking advantage of prospective grant applicants by charging them fees for their “assistance” to apply online.
SASSA says it has received numerous reports of skelms posing as NGOs who are taking advantage of vulnerable applicants, by charging them a fee for helping them apply for grants online.
Communication director for SASSA, Shivani Wahab, says: “The agency has been a prime target for fraudsters throughout the years.
“We have received multiple reports of fraudulent practices currently unfolding in communities across the province.
“Scammers posing as representatives of non-profit organisations, are luring social grant applicants to their ‘offices’, under the pretext of assisting the public with online social grant applications, while charging a fee for this illegal service.
“We would like to reassure the public that swift action will be taken against any organisations or individuals involved in any illegal practice.
“A zero-tolerance approach is exercised by Sassa to combat fraud and corruption.”
Sassa said it has no formal partnerships with any community-based organisations or individuals to assist residents to apply for social grants online, reports IOL.
“People have the option of applying for social grants online.
“Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns dictated a new way of conducting business.
“SASSA launched the online application system for social grants in 2020 as an alternative mechanism for the public to apply for social grants, without having to physically access any SASSA contact point.”