Scam alert! Stats SA warns of fraudsters pretending to be officials collecting data

Stats SA has warned the public of scammers pretending to be officials collecting data, targeting communities in Giyani, Limpopo.

On Tuesday, the national statistical service issued a warning about scammers pretending to be field workers from the agency. 

“The scammers are going door-to-door claiming to be profiling households. They request members of the public to provide their banking details and also to confirm if they have mobile banking apps,” said Stats SA.

Stats SA said it does not ask respondents to provide these details.

It is alleged that some members of the community have been robbed of money by these scammers.

“Members of the public are urged to be vigilant and not fall victim to the scam. The organisation has communicated its temporary suspension of all face-to-face data collection due to the latest Covid-19 restrictions,” it said.

Stats SA said other temporary suspensions include the frame update project, in which fieldworkers go door-to-door collecting contact details from households.  

“We are conducting a risk assessment to determine when we can resume face-to-face data collection. The public will be informed once this decision has been finalised,” it said. 

Stats SA said its field workers could be identified by their Stats SA-branded bibs, Stats SA ID cards and introduction letters. 

To verify that the person is a legitimate Stats SA staff member, the public can check online or contact the call centre on 0800-110-248. 

The scam is one of many to be busted in the past few weeks after SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) debunked a fake post about the R350 grant and the SA Post Office warned about a scam involving messages sent via email. 

The basic education department also warned businesses against scammers fronting as officials. 

The labour department warned desperate job seekers about a fake learnership advertisement that promised applicants a stipend of R5,000.