Fake R700 Grant Alert: SASSA Cautions Beneficiaries Against Scam

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A very important Public Notice issued by the African Social Security Agency (SASSA) concerns an imminent wave of a fraudulent R700 grant scheme that is trending all over social networking or messaging platforms. In this case, the fraudsters alleged that SASSA was providing South African citizens with an R700 additional grant, totally unbeknownst to many citizens whose ends up spammed with sharing their information and details.

Thus, The Warning Issued By SASSA Is As Follows:  

The R700 grant has been condemned by SASSA but tendered warning to the public to avoid fraudulent websites, SMS messages, and WhatsApp forwards as those are not the ways to apply for that grant. The messages typically include needs for:  

  • Clicking on a fake link to “apply” for a grant.  
  • Personal data includes ID numbers, bank info, and others.  
  • Sharing this message with friends has to “qualify” for the payment.  

This has all been particularly emphasized that all these official SASSA grant updates are strictly put for sharing through only its official website (www.sassa.gov.za) and verified social media accounts.  

About How The Scam Work 

Furthermore, among FC fraudsters methods that are used to defraud people, there are examples such as below.  

  1. Fake Websites & Links- Scammers created websites that are so much like SASSA’s official portal that any person would think it is the same. The user is asked to fill out personal information.  
  2. Phishing Message- An SMS or WhatsApp comes claiming that the recipient has qualified for the R700 grant and must fill in the banking details to receive the payment.  
  3. Social Media Hoaxes- Encourages persons to share on Facebook and Twitter on the path of applying for the nonexisting grant.  

With those details, a scammer might use them for either identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized withdrawals from bank accounts.  

How To Protect Yourself 

In order to avoid being a prey to such scams, SASSA advises the beneficiaries:  

  • Denounce the naysayers of the R700 grant as nonsense.  
  • Do not share any personal information with unauthorized or stranger websites.  
  • Check SASSA’s website or contact their toll-free helpline (0800 60 10 11) for confirmation regarding any information.  
  • Report to the authorities all scam incidents to SASSA or the police to help prevent other people from becoming victims of the same.  

Conclusion

The fake R700 grant scam is a serious fraud attempt targeting vulnerable South Africans. SASSA has clearly established that there is no such grant, urging the public to be vigilant. Such has shown that only official sources are the last resort to verifying any grant-related information, thus protecting oneself from financial fraud.

Also Read: Unified Pension Scheme: New Pension Scheme Will Be Implemented For Govt. Employees From 1st 

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