The Department of Employment and Labour is alerting the public of a new scam targeting individuals who have applied for maternity benefits. Scammers are impersonating Department officials, contacting both clients and their employers, and requesting payments to release supposed “vouchers or funds".

The scammers typically request the UIF beneficiary to send money through a bank and then send the pin or buy a voucher and send the details to him, claiming it is required to process the benefits. They are obtaining information by deceiving employers into believing that they represent the Department and asking for personal details of employees who have applied for these benefits. Unfortunately, some clients have already lost money to this scheme, and there is concern that the scam could spread to other regions.

The Department of Employment and Labour wishes to clarify that it does not issue vouchers of any kind, nor does it charge clients for its services. The Department also does not call clients to request information that has already been provided in the application process. All services are free of charge, and clients should not share any personal financial information in response to unsolicited calls.

We urge all clients and employers to be vigilant. Should you receive any suspicious communication, contact the Department of Employment and Labour immediately to verify the legitimacy of the enquiries.

For media inquiries contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

​ 

​​