Sassa scam alert: No, you can’t apply for food parcel vouchers

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has warned clients of a new food parcel voucher scam.

On Wednesday, Sassa shared a screenshot of a social media post, and urged citizens to be cautious when sharing personal information online.

Here’s what you need to know.

Sassa scam alert

Fake food parcel vouchers

The post – which initially began doing the rounds on Facebook – invited Sassa beneficiaries to apply for “free social relief food parcel vouchers”. Sassa warned:

“The information is fake and does NOT come from Sassa”.

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If users clicked on the link, they would have likely been taken to a phishing site. The fraudulent webpage has since been taken down.

SASSA warns clients not to provide personal information to unknown sites. The below information is fake and does NOT come from SASSA #SASSACARES @The_DSD @nda_rsa @PostofficeSa @GCISMedia @GovernmentZA pic.twitter.com/SOkIvk6xbV

— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) November 3, 2021

Clothes voucher scam

Scams targeting beneficiaries have become prevalent of late.

Back in October, Sassa also warned against a post inviting beneficiaries to take their Sassa card and ID document to their nearest Pep store.

Beneficiaries were told they would be able to apply for “kids clothes vouchers before 4 November”. This too, Sassa confirmed, was a scam.

#FakeNewsAlert: Please note that the information below is fake @The_DSD @nda_rsa @PostofficeSa pic.twitter.com/EUtmhWVmb4

— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) October 25, 2021

When to collect Sassa money

Beneficiaries can start collecting their grant money from today, 3 November. Senior citizen grants will be paid out today.

Disability grants will open on Thursday 4 November, with all other grants opening for receipt on Friday 5 November.

However, Sassa said there is no need to “rush to withdraw cash on the first day”.

“Once the money is in the account, it will remain there until it is needed,” the agency said.

ALSO READ: Social grant payment dates confirmed for November 2021

Covid-19 SRD grant report

The Department of Social Development has released a report that looked into the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R350 grant.

President Cyril Ramaphosa first announced the special grant in April 2020 as part of the government’s R500 billion stimulus package, after Covid-19 hit South African shores.

The SRD grant was aimed at those aged between 18 and 59 years without any source of income support, and those facing undue hardships due to unemployment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NOW READ: Here are the key findings in Covid-19 grant report