The Social Security System (SSS) warns the public especially small establishments to be more careful in accepting SSS checks as payments for purchases and encashing the same.
SSS management has received a report from SSS La Union Branch Officer-In-Charge Francisco F. Pentecostes last week that a bogus SSS check was encashed from a grocery store amounting to nine thousand pesos.
“The fake SSS check was allegedly issued by Land Bank of the Philippines Baguio City Branch but the account from which it will be drawn is from Land Bank of the Philippines Tarlac Branch. The SSS check also indicated two different account numbers and the signatures are not by authorized signatories of the agency,” said SSS.
The SSS La Union Branch has already alerted grocery stories and other establishments within the area of this kind of modus. They advised the owners regarding the features of the fraudulent check and to call the SSS branch to verify the genuineness of the SSS checks before accepting any.
“We want to remind everyone to be more prudent in accepting SSS checks being encashed to them. The fake SSS check that was encashed may look authentic for someone who is not familiar with the SSS check. But if placed side by side with the real SSS check, one can see a lot of inconsistencies,” said SSS.
Authentic SSS checks only have one account number which is located above the check date and at the bottom part of the check unlike the fake one which contained two different account numbers. The SS number of the member-payee is also printed on the check while such information is not found on the fake check.
Most importantly, the SSS President is the only signatory for all benefit checks issued by the SSS.
“We assure our members that SSS checks are secured and cannot be easily copied. However, we still urge the public to be more vigilant especially with the holiday season fast approaching for possible fraudulent transactions and to report such incidents to the SSS Branch so that we can take the necessary actions,” said SSS.
Store and other establishment owners and the general public can verify the authenticity of SSS checks by presenting the same to the SSS Branch near them.
