With International Fraud Awareness Week running until Saturday 22 November, the City of Cape Town‘s Ethics and Forensic Services Department is urging residents to stay vigilant as scammers gear up for their annual festive season offensive.
“During this peak scam season, we are asking our residents and customers to be fraud fighters and to always pause and verify before falling victim to the countless scams circulating,” said Councillor Siseko Mbandezi, Mayoral committee member for finance.
Fraudsters are currently targeting local residents through multiple channels. One prevalent scam involves WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the City, offering to prevent water or electricity disconnections for a fee. These messages are fraudulent – residents should never pay money based on unsolicited communications.
Housing fraud is also rampant, with scammers targeting vulnerable residents with fake City housing opportunities or fraudulent government housing list placements. These cons often target pensioners and financially vulnerable individuals. Additionally, fraudsters are posing as City officials offering bogus electricity services and purchases.
To protect yourself, always phone official call centers to verify requests claiming to be from banks, the City, or other service providers. Never give personal information such as banking details or ID numbers via online, WhatsApp, or SMS requests. Download apps only from official sources and avoid clicking unknown URLs or links.
When someone claims to be from the City, verify their legitimacy immediately by calling the City’s Call Centre at 086 010 3089. Ask for official identification before allowing anyone onto your premises, and remember that legitimate City officials will understand verification requests.
Residents can report suspected fraud through the City’s Fraud Hotline at 0800 32 32 30 (toll-free) or the General Call Centre at 0860 103 090. Anonymous reporting is encouraged for any incidents involving City employees, clients, suppliers, or services.
When reporting fraud, include who is involved, what happened, where it occurred, when it took place, how the fraud occurred, and the estimated value if known. You’ll receive a reference number for follow-ups – keep this confidential.
Mbandezi emphasised the devastating impact on victims: “Sadly, the money lost to these fraudsters is never recouped. Victims of fraud are often already financially vulnerable, in particular pensioners.”
The 25th anniversary of International Fraud Awareness Week serves as a crucial reminder that community vigilance is our strongest defense against fraud. By pausing to verify suspicious communications and reporting potential scams, residents become active fraud fighters protecting both themselves and their neighbours. Remember: When in doubt, verify. It’s always better to take a moment to check than to lose money to criminals.
