How Beneficiaries Can Protect Themselves and Reapply
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced the suspension of Covid-19 SRD grants flagged for suspected fraudulent activity. This move aims to ensure that grants are allocated to the rightful beneficiaries while tackling identity theft and cyber fraud.
Sassa’s Approach to Combating Fraud
Sassa has implemented rigorous measures to secure its SRD grant system. When an account is flagged for suspicious activity, the grant is immediately suspended, and the beneficiary is notified. However, beneficiaries are allowed to reapply once their case has been investigated.
Sassa emphasized the importance of safeguarding beneficiaries’ personal information, particularly identity numbers, to avoid aiding fraudsters. The agency’s officials are trained to handle cases related to SRD grant fraud, urging beneficiaries to report suspicious activity promptly.
System Vulnerabilities and Investigations
The SRD grant system’s vulnerabilities were highlighted last year by University of Stellenbosch students Joel Cedras and Veer Gosai. Their findings prompted the Department of Social Development to appoint Masegare & Associates Incorporated to investigate. The department has since committed to addressing these critical security flaws to prevent potential cyber-attacks.
Fraudulent Activities on Facebook
Sassa beneficiaries have also been targeted by scammers on social media. The #PayTheGrants campaign revealed fake Facebook pages posing as Sassa, promising assistance with updating phone numbers. These pages use fake verification links to capture sensitive personal information.
Sassa has been urged to launch educational campaigns to help the public identify official communications and avoid interacting with fraudulent pages. Legal action against scammers has also been recommended.
What Beneficiaries Should Do
If a beneficiary finds their SRD grant status marked as “referred,” they should contact Sassa immediately to resolve the issue. Additionally, Sassa advises beneficiaries to:
- Avoid sharing personal information, especially identity numbers, with strangers.
- Limit changes to banking details and contact numbers to prevent delays in payments.
Sassa’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud and improve system security demonstrate its commitment to protecting the integrity of social grants. Beneficiaries must remain vigilant and proactive to ensure their grants are safeguarded.
Also read: Where to Collect Your New SASSA Black Card: Store Locations Across 7 Provinces
