Postbank has issued a warning to Sassa beneficiaries to be on high alert for individuals impersonating its officials.

It said that a disturbing trend has emerged, with social grant recipients using both the new Postbank black cards and the older Sassa gold cards being targeted by sophisticated fraud scams designed to steal their card and PIN details.

These scammers, pretending to be legitimate officials, are reportedly visiting beneficiaries at their homes. 

They employ various deceptive tactics, often convincing recipients to hand over their cards and personal identification numbers by falsely claiming the cards are defective, require immediate repair, or that failure to comply will lead to the forfeiture of their grant payments.

But this is not true.

"Postbank assures social grant beneficiaries that there is nothing that requires fixing on any of its black cards and Sassa gold cards, and that both cards will continue to work beyond 31 May 2025 for the payments of their grants," a statement read.

In light of these concerns, Postbank has drafted the following crucial tips for beneficiaries to protect themselves from these scams:

·       Never share your PIN: Postbank officials will never ask for your card's PIN.

·       Beware of unannounced visits: Postbank or Sassa will never show up unannounced or without an appointment.

·       NEVER EVER hand over your card: Do not give your Postbank Black Card or SASSA Gold Card to anyone. Your card and PIN are your personal keys to your money.

·        Report suspicious activity: If you are approached by someone suspicious at your home

*This article was first published by eNCA