Residents must remain vigilant against a new electricity scam where fraudsters pose as municipal officials, contacting people via WhatsApp and phone calls with false claims about service disconnections due to outstanding debt.
A recent case in the Helderberg demonstrates how vigilant residents can protect themselves from these scams.
The targeted resident apparently received WhatsApp messages followed by phone calls falsely stating that their electricity would be disconnected due to municipal account arrears.
The scammers demanded urgent payment into a bank account or via e-Wallet to avoid service disconnection.
Fortunately, the vigilant resident immediately recognised the scam attempt and alerted the authorities.
“The City of Cape Town is investigating this matter and appeals to all residents to remain alert and report any suspicious encounters,” said Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee member for Energy.
“We remind residents that 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.
“Importantly, all payments to the City must be made through official City channels, such as visiting a municipal cash office or by making electronic payments using details on the monthly municipal bill.
“We ask residents to inform their family and friends and especially the elderly, so that residents are aware of scammers. Always pause and verify first by phoning the City’s Call Centre.”
When legitimate City staff work in your area, they carry official identification cards displaying the City logo, their full name, and an embedded photo. If you’re uncertain about anyone’s identity, stay vigilant and call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 for verification.
๏ฎReport any suspicious activity to the City’s Fraud Hotline on 0800 32 31 30, send an email to fraud.hotline@capetown.gov.za, or contact your nearest police station.
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