Friday, 2 October 2026 ⚠️ Real Incident

Warning: Unauthorised funeral policy deductions on SASSA grants

The FAIS Ombud has warned SASSA grant recipients about unauthorised funeral policy deductions taking money from their grants and bank accounts.

What happened

The FAIS Ombud reported an increase in complaints from elderly grant recipients regarding unauthorised funeral policies. Insurance agents approached grant holders offering food vouchers, competitions, or financial quotes. Personal details and biometric information were collected and used to deduct policy premiums without proper consent.

How it worked

First, agents approach people with offers like free food vouchers or competition entries. Next, they ask for identity numbers, bank details, or biometric signatures under the guise of setting up a quote or prize. Finally, they use this information to set up funeral policies or trick people into approving DebiCheck SMS debit authorisations.

How to protect yourself

• Never share your identity number, bank details, or biometric information for food vouchers or competitions.
• Do not approve any DebiCheck SMS message on your phone that you do not fully understand.
• Check your bank account and SASSA grant payments regularly to spot any unauthorised deductions.

Source: IOL