Being mindful of fraud and being extra cautious can save you time and money.

Here is more information to help you avoid fraud or manage fraud if you have fallen victim:

1. How to avoid fraud

• View any communication that requests for your financial or confidential information with suspicion. Do not trust any requests that seem slightly unusual compared to the standard communication you usually receive from NMG Benefits.
• NMG Benefits will never ask you for money to process a claim. Be wary of any individual who claims to work for us when they ask for money upfront to process a claim.
• Always choose strong passwords to protect your personal information.

2. Some common scams, include:

• Phishing: A common scam that attempts to steal money or your identity by obtaining your personal information - such as credit card numbers, bank information, or passwords. This information can be requested on websites that pretend to be legitimate.
  • SMShing: This is a type of scam that uses mobile text messages to get you into calling back a fraudulent phone number, visiting fraudulent websites or downloading malicious content.
  • Deposit and Refund Scam: This is a scam when criminals contact you telling you that an amount of money was deposited into your bank account by accident, or that they have paid you a deposit for an urgent order that must be delivered immediately.
  • Vishing: This type of scam entails making phone calls, posing to be from reputable companies to encourage you to reveal personal information.

3. Reporting fraud

If you have fallen victim to fraud, it’s important to report it. It’s not always possible to get your money back, but you might be able to reduce the damage and stop it from happening again to you or other people.

If you’ve been approached by an individual who has asked for payment so that they can get your benefit for you, immediately report this to your NMG consultant or administrator.

4. Getting in touch

If we are unable to get in touch with you, we will use a reputable tracing agent to try contact you to start the claims process.

Our reputable tracing agents:

• Clearly identify themselves
• Ask potential beneficiaries to submit the relevant claim form
• Never request payment

If you’ve been a victim of fraud or have been approached by someone you don’t know who has requested payment so that they can get your benefit for you, please email NMG Benefits at fraud@nmg.co.za.

Don’t let negligence get the better of you - be mindful and keep your guard up against fraud.

Disclaimer: The information in this communication is for information purposes and is not intended to be detailed advice described in the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act. The fund, administrator and trustees cannot be held liable for damage or loss suffered as a result of any action that you take based on the contents of this communication.