{"id":83074,"date":"2016-11-30T00:53:15","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T22:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/preventing-payroll-identity-fraud\/"},"modified":"2016-11-30T00:53:15","modified_gmt":"2016-11-29T22:53:15","slug":"preventing-payroll-identity-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/preventing-payroll-identity-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventing payroll identity fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preventing payroll identity fraud<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\"Nicolette-Nicholson-2\"<\/p>\n

Nicolette Nicholson, Director, South African Payroll Association<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Payroll identity fraud is a reality in South Africa. Provincial departments, municipalities and the Department of Education are just a few of the examples where millions has been lost to ghost employees and other fraudulent payroll activities.<\/p>\n

Often, the payroll department is the last line of defence against fraud. \u201cAn alert payroll administrator can save their company thousands or even millions of Rands by recognising fraudulent schemes,\u201d says Nicolette Nicholson, Director at the South African Payroll Association (SAPA).<\/p>\n

This form of fraud occurs when a person copies an unsuspecting victim’s identity document to gain employment. The fraudster may make a new ID document that retains the valid ID number but displays their name and photograph. Or they could make a photocopy of the original and have it certified by an unsuspecting or unscrupulous commissioner of oaths.<\/p>\n

The fraudulent ID holder could be a foreign citizen who has crossed into South Africa illegally and wishes to find employment. They could also be someone with a criminal record and unable to gain employment because of their past. They may find work in lower wage brackets in industries where background checks are less strict. But they could get positions in higher paying jobs if an employer is negligent in taking precautionary measures.<\/p>\n

The consequences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once they’re employed, the original ID holder and the employer may face consequences for the fake employee’s actions. The victim will suffer high tax on income they never earned with the onus on them to prove the discrepancy. The employer could be held accountable for not performing identity and background checks.<\/p>\n

According to Nicholson, demanding and validating an original ID document is the best way to prevent identity fraud. \u201cNever accept a copy, even a certified one, as evidence of identity,\u201d she advises. \u201cThen make sure the identity number and personal details appearing on the original document match the records at the Department of Home Affairs or other appropriate authority.\u201d<\/p>\n

Employers should also check fingerprints. \u201cIt\u2019s an excellent test because there’s no way to forge the original ID holder’s fingerprints,\u201d says Nicholson.<\/p>\n

The fraudster may collude with corrupt staff who have access to HR records and can add their details to the company’s books. If controls are not strictly enforced, or proper segregation of duties between HR, recruitment and payroll is not applied, this won’t easily be detected. Nicholson recommends regular and snap audits throughout the personnel department to uncover irregularities.<\/p>\n

Blocked by payroll<\/strong><\/p>\n

But if all else fails, there\u2019s one final guard against identity fraud – the payroll administrator. They validate banking details provided by employees and should question where the account holder’s credentials differ. Reports Nicholson, \u201cSince the fraudster won’t be able to open an account in the victim’s name, that difference often catches them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Payroll is also responsible for tax certificate reporting and will make sure the employee’s PAYE registration number, identity number and date of birth correspond to those registered with SARS. Nicholson strongly recommends that companies obey the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI). \u201cAn employee’s personal information should always be kept confidential and protected in a manner prescribed by law,\u201d she says. \u201cNever hand ID copies or personal details to others because that’s how ID fraud happens in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

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