The City of Cape Town is warning residents to be on high alert following reports of scammers posing as City officials in an attempt to extort money from households. The latest incident was reported in Goodwood, where a resident was contacted via WhatsApp and falsely told their municipal account was in arrears.
According to Siseko Mbandezi, Mayco member for Finance, the scammers demanded an immediate payment of R650 via e-wallet to avoid the disconnection of the resident’s water supply. “The City can confirm that the account in question was fully up to date and that no disconnection was scheduled. The matter is under investigation. We urge all residents to remain vigilant and to report any similar incidents.”
The City reminds residents of the following important points:
- The City does not notify residents of service disconnections via WhatsApp.
- No City official is permitted to request payment via e-wallet or personal bank accounts.
- All payments must be made only through official City channels.
“Residents who suspect fraudulent activity are encouraged to report it immediately to the City or their nearest police station,” said Mbandezi.
Residents must report suspicious activity.
Fraud Hotline: 0800 32 31 30
