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Pretoria - The public must beware of a certain "Samantha Jonkers" who is apparently conducting business in the Ennerdale area in Johannesburg as a so-called financial claiming agent for beneficiaries of unclaimed benefits, the Financial Services Board (FSB) has warned.
The FSB has received numerous tip-offs about this person charging a consultation fee of R250 for her help in claiming a benefit. She allegedly informs claimants that she has direct access to the funds information regarding their fund credit and claims to be working for the FSB.
The FSB warns members of the public in that area to be cautious when dealing with her.
It has also been reported to the FSB that "Jonkers" uses different administrator forms.
Some of the claimants say "Jonkers" informs them of the exact benefit due to them and she provides them with a confirmation letter of their claim. It is said that "Jonkers" was operating at 24 Grit Single Crescent, Ennerdale, but has moved to 347/1 Third Avenue.
"While a person who believes that he or she is entitled to an unclaimed benefit or unclaimed surplus may ask another person to assist him or her to claim it, the only people who can legitimately charge for providing such assistance are authorised financial services providers and attorneys," warns the FSB.
It also emphasises that the Registrar of Pension Funds’ office assists members or beneficiaries in tracing unclaimed benefits and unclaimed shares of surplus by liaising with the applicable funds and/or their administrators. No fee is charged for this service.
"Pension funds and provident funds may not charge a fee for assisting their members to claim the amounts due to them," emphasised the FSB.
A member of the public, who would like assistance from the FSB with a claim to a benefit, may contact it directly or visit www.fsb.co.za to download and complete the relevant form and then email it to FSB.PensionsUnclaimed@fsb.co.za.
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