Cape Town residents are being targeted by sophisticated scammers who impersonate City officials on WhatsApp, falsely threatening electricity disconnections unless immediate payments are made, the City’s Electricity Department warned this week.
The fraudulent scheme has already reached residents in the Helderberg area, where one victim received WhatsApp messages followed by phone calls claiming their electricity would be cut off due to outstanding municipal debt. The scammers demanded urgent payment into personal bank accounts or via e-Wallet to prevent service disconnection.
Fortunately, the targeted resident recognised the scam and immediately alerted City authorities, prompting an official investigation into the matter.
Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, said that the City never uses social media platforms for service notifications or payment requests.
“The City does not notify residents of service disconnections via WhatsApp or any other social media platform, and no City official may request payment via e-Wallet or personal bank accounts,” Limberg stated. “All payments to the City must be made through official channels, such as visiting a municipal cash office or making electronic payments using details on the monthly municipal bill.”
Limberg urges residents to share this warning with family and friends, particularly elderly community members who may be more vulnerable to such scams.
How to protect yourself
City officials advise residents to remember these key safety points:
- The City never sends service disconnection notices via WhatsApp or social media
- No legitimate City official will request payments through e-wallets or personal bank accounts
- All municipal payments must be made through official City channels only
- When in doubt, always verify by calling the City’s Call Centre at 0860 103 089
Identifying legitimate City workers
When City staff or contractors visit your property, they are required to carry proper identification that includes:
- The official City logo
- The staff member’s full name
- An embedded photograph of the employee
- Residents uncertain about a worker’s legitimacy should call 0860 103 089 for verification
How to report suspicious activity
Anyone who encounters suspected fraud should report it immediately through:
- City Fraud Hotline: 0800 32 31 30
- Email: fraud.hotline@capetown.gov.za
- Local SAPS station (police remain the lead authority for crime prevention)
The City continues investigating this scam and urges all residents to remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes targeting municipal services.
