Ward 17 councillor Peter Rafferty warned residents about a false message purporting to be from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), doing the rounds on social media.
According to Rafferty, the message calls on people to submit money, and fill in a form in order to receive a grocery grant.
“This false message makes the claim that it will pay unemployed people an unemployment grant of R 2 200, and that applications should come through via a Gmail account,” said Rafferty.
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The Ward 17 councillor confirmed that the message was a hoax.
He said, “I went to the Sassa officers yesterday to consult the officials who confirmed that this is a scam. I would like to make all residents aware of this scam, and I would also like to urge them not to take out any money for such claims.
“The phony message is circulating on the WhatsApp messaging facility and appears to be legitimate because reputable supermarkets like Shoprite and Pick n Pay are listed on the flyer.
There is a request for you to download a form from the website www.gov.za. Rafferty fears that Kersiedorp and Kliptown residents, who are from these disadvantaged areas, would be the most likely targets of this scam.
“These con artists usually target those who are vulnerable in our community,” he said.
The councillor also added that people need to be more vigilant and aware of their surroundings, especially within the next few months.
“It is now festive season time and it is at this time that scammers come up with ways to rob the poor. Please be careful, do not fall for such scams and always verify the information for clarity,” he said.
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