Johannesburg - Businesses must beware of a syndicate
offering to help them recover unclaimed money from the Unemployment Insurance
Fund (UIF), commissioner Boas Seruwe said on Monday.
Forms entitled "UIF-Administrator of Fund" or
"Unclaimed Income Fund" were being circulated to businesses offering
to help them recover amounts of up to R10 000 from the fund, Seruwe said in a
statement.
The forms looked similar to the official form used by
employers to declare payment for workers' contributions to the UIF.
The fraudsters asked for a payment of between R149.90 and
R194.90 to assist in recovering the UIF money.
"Our services are free and the UIF does not charge its
clients to process claims. The Fund does not pay the so-called huge unclaimed
amounts," Seruwe said.
The UIF, an entity of the department of labour, pays
benefits to employees if they lose their jobs, fall pregnant or are unable to
work due to illness.
If workers contributed to the fund, but did not lose their
jobs, the fund would not pay back the unclaimed portion of the contribution,
Seruwe said.
He said people should call the UIF on 012-337-1680 if they
needed more information.