Africa-Press – Tanzania. Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF) has cautioned its members to be wary against fraudsters who have been making phone calls promising to help them access their terminal benefits and other pensions.
The management of the Fund has been prompted to issue the caution following reports that there are individuals who have posing as PSSSF officials, promising members to help them get paid their benefits.
PSSSF Public Relations Manager James Mlowe sounded the warning to members who visited the Fund’s pavilion in an ongoing National Financial Service Week at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam during which he sensitisised them on the modus operandi of the Fund when handling matters related to payment of terminal benefits and other pensions to members.
The major objective of the Week is to avail an opportunity to the public to meet private and public financial institutions so that they get the right information and education on financial matters, including investment opportunities available in the sector.
According to Mr Mlowe, there have been cases whereby retirees have been falling victims to some deceitful acts by fraudsters who have been using ICT to con some individuals.
“These individuals have been impersonating as official from PSSSF, Ministry of Finance and Planning or any other public office, calling our members before giving them directives or instructions that, in the end, lead them to losing their money,” he said.
He said PSSSF has its special system of paying terminal benefits or pensions to its members, insisting that the payments are directly made to members’ bank accounts after processing their claims submitted after filling in forms.
“PSSSF has no system that allows members to be paid their terminal benefits or pension via mobile phones or banks’ applications,”Mr Mlowe explained.
“We kindly ask our members not to cooperate when they receive phone calls from these individuals, instead they should contact us for clarification,” he insisted, adding that PSSSF has received cases of fraud from various corners of the country.
He hinted that it appears there is a network of fraudsters operating in the country, asking members to be vigilant.
According to Mr Mlowe, procedures for payment of terminal benefits or pension to any member start by filling in the forms through the employer who then submits the documents to the Fund for further processes.
“Upon completion of all processes within the Fund, the money is then directly deposited into the member’s bank account written in the forms,” he explained.
He said in case the Fund underpays the member, he/she is required to write a letter to the Fund, claiming the money. “We have a proper arrangement of dealing with underpaid claims. The procedures include working with the member’s employer and when records are put clear the money is then deposited into the member’s bank account,” Mr Mlowe clarified.
Mr Mlowe said it has reached a point whereby fraudsters have crafted their control number through which they dupe members.
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