THE Social Welfare department does not charge a processing fee.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation made this clear in a statement stating impersonators are targeting the elderly, and unfortunately several recipients had been duped in this bogus scheme in the west (Lautoka) recently.
The Ministry says that the statement: “The Ministry of Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation would like to warn all its social protection recipients and elderly persons, that there are people in the community going around impersonating welfare officers, claiming that Government through the Ministry is giving funds for Christmas and New Year spending to the amount of $1,000. Lately, these persons are promising that funds to the amount of $9,000 will be provided for Tropical Cyclone Sarai Relief and in order for recipients to receive the assistance, they will have to pay a fee of $90 to $150 for the processing of their application” is not true.
The Ministry is advising all its recipients that this is a hoax and therefore they are not to accommodate any individual/s approaching them with such information.
If it happens, they are to demand for a Ministry ID card and report the matter to the nearest Police Station or Social Welfare Office.
