“We would like to warn our former employees of the possibility of a pension scam,” the mine said in a statement.
“These scammers are masquerading as people that can bring guaranteed high returns. Farming and agriculture has never had speedy and high returns. It takes years to get to high returns in agriculture,” they said.
Pension scams are on the increase in South Africa and especially pensioners are losing their hard earned money.
“Fraudsters are developing and using sophisticated ways to steal money from unsuspecting pensioners and in most instances pensioners become aware of these scams after they have lost their lifetime savings for the future.”
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Be on the lookout for these common tell-tale signs that mean it could be a scam, PMC said:
• Unsolicited approaches by phone call, text message, email or in person. This means you should not be contacted by any company about your pension unless you’ve asked them to.
• When a firm or individual doesn’t allow you to call them back or they do not have offices that you can visit.
• Where examples are made about people that you do not know and had seen no results of what they are luring to.
• Where you are forced to make a quick decision, are pressured into doing so, or are encouraged to transfer your pension quickly and send documents by courier or just call when you have done it.
• Contact details are only mobile phone numbers or a PO Box address.
• Say they know of tax loopholes or promise extra tax savings.
• Offer high rates of return on your investment, but claim it is low risk.
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Former members of pension funds who believe they are entitled to receive a share of surplus in terms of their pension fund’s surplus apportionment scheme, should directly approach their former fund or its administrator for assistance free of charge.
The current administrator / liquidator for the PMC pension fund is Mr Gert Potgieter from Alexander Forbes who can be contacted on 011 569 1873 or Potgieterg@Aforbes.co.za.
The local PMC Pension Fund office can be reached on 015 780 3053 or 3057.
“Our pensioner members are reminded that they have worked for many years for the pension money and it cannot grow overnight. “Do not fall for ‘get rich quick’ scams,” they said.
