When a message says it’s from SASSA
We’ve seen 16 scams borrow the SASSA name. A familiar logo is easy to copy; the safest move is to open the official app yourself.
SASSA fact-check warns about viral posts/forwards claiming a fake SRD increase, including R450 or R700 amounts. These messages are used to drive users to fake application, verification or update processes.
SASSA fact-check warns about fake SASSA home visits, where people claim a SASSA officer will visit to update details, check a grant or replace a card. The warning says genuine officers do not ask for cards, PINs or banking passwords.
SASSA fact-check warns about callers pretending to be SASSA agents and asking for the OTP sent to the victim's phone to 'verify' the account. Sharing the OTP can let criminals access banking or grant-related services.
SASSA fact-check warns about WhatsApp messages claiming to be SASSA agents or official numbers for SRD applications/status fixes. The scam asks beneficiaries for ID numbers, banking details, OTPs or PINs over WhatsApp.
Recent SASSA fact-check warns about SMS phishing links saying 'click this link to verify your SASSA grant', 'update your details' or 'claim your payout'. It says SASSA does not send SMS messages with clickable links asking users to verify, log in or update details.
SASSA fact-check lists a fake SASSA-looking online portal format. The scam relies on a government-sounding domain and SASSA branding to convince beneficiaries to apply, verify details or pay fees outside official channels.
sassa-online[.]za
SASSA fact-check identifies non-official SASSA-looking sites used in phishing and fake application lures. The source says any SASSA site outside sassa.gov.za and srd.sassa.gov.za is fake.
sassa-payment[.]com
SASSA fact-check lists fake grant-application domains that are not official SASSA/SRD portals. The scam claims users can apply for or update grants through a non-government domain and may ask for personal details or fees.
sassagrants[.]org
Updated SASSA fact-check warns that only sassa.gov.za and srd.sassa.gov.za are legitimate SASSA domains, and that fake SASSA grant websites copy SASSA branding, request grant applications or updates, and may charge bogus application/verification fees.
sassa-grants[.]co[.]za
Recent SASSA fact-checks warn about callers pretending to be SASSA agents and asking for OTPs or one-time PINs.
Recent SASSA fact-checks warn about fake SASSA business-grant offers of R150,000, R250,000 or R350,000.
Recent SASSA fact-checks warn about fake social-media and WhatsApp claims that the SRD grant has increased to R450, R500 or R700.
Recent SASSA fact-checks warn about fake WhatsApp numbers claiming they can apply for SRD grants or fix grant statuses.
Updated SASSA fact-checks warn that scammers circulate SMS messages saying “click this link” to verify a grant, update details, or claim a payout.
Updated SASSA fact-check warns about fake SASSA WhatsApp numbers claiming to help with SRD applications or grant-status fixes.
Updated SASSA fact-check warns that SMS messages telling beneficiaries to click a link to verify a grant, update details or claim a payout are phishing.