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Scam Message Checker

Received a message about your SASSA grant that does not feel right? Paste it below to see which patterns found in reported scams appear in the text. It is free, independent, and nothing you type leaves your browser.

Check a message

The check looks for 6 patterns that appear in reported SASSA scams — money requests, suspicious links, requests for a PIN or OTP, urgency, promises of extra payment and threats. It does not send your message anywhere.

Common red flags

Scammers often use the same tricks. Learn to recognize these common red flags to protect yourself.

Sense of Urgency

Scammers try to create panic to make you act without thinking. They might say your grant will be cancelled if you don't act immediately.

Request for Payment

SASSA will never ask you to pay a fee to receive a grant. If someone asks you for money, it's a scam.

Requests for Personal Information

Be very careful about sharing your ID number, banking details, or PIN. SASSA will never ask for your bank card PIN.

Suspicious Links

Do not click on links in SMS or email messages that claim to be from SASSA. These links can lead to fake websites that steal your information.

Poor Grammar and Spelling

Official communication from SASSA is professional. Scam messages often contain spelling and grammar mistakes.

Unusual Contact Methods

Be wary of unexpected calls or messages from unofficial channels. Always verify the source.

Recently reported scam patterns

These are patterns reported during 2026. Read them before you act on any message about your grant.

Fake SASSA Websites

critical

Scammers are creating fake websites that look very similar to the official SASSA website. These websites are designed to trick you into entering your personal information, such as your ID number, bank details, and phone number.

Signs to look for

  • The website URL is not sassa.gov.za.
  • The website asks for your bank account password.
  • The website has spelling and grammar mistakes.
  • The website looks unprofessional or has a poor design.

"Grant Approved" SMS Scam

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You may receive an SMS that says your SASSA grant has been approved and you need to click a link or pay a fee to receive your payment. This is a scam. SASSA will never ask you to pay a fee to receive a grant.

Signs to look for

  • The SMS asks you to click on a link.
  • The SMS asks you to pay a fee.
  • The SMS is from an unknown number.
  • The SMS contains spelling and grammar mistakes.

Impersonation of SASSA Officials

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Scammers may come to your home pretending to be SASSA officials. They may offer to help you with your grant application or tell you that there is a problem with your grant. They will then try to steal your personal information or ask you for money.

Signs to look for

  • The person does not have official SASSA identification.
  • The person asks for money.
  • The person asks for your PIN or password.
  • The person tries to rush you into making a decision.
This tool checks the words in a message against patterns found in reported SASSA scams. It is not a fraud investigation, it cannot confirm whether a message is real, and it is not affiliated with SASSA. Confirm everything through the official SASSA channels.

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