The City’s Energy Directorate urges residents to be alert to electricity scams and encourages all Capetonians to be vigilant of individuals posing as City officials.
These scammers are contacting residents via WhatsApp and falsely claiming that residents’ services will be disconnected due to outstanding municipal debt. Always take a moment to pause and verify by phoning the City’s Call Centre first on 0860 103 089. “We recently became aware of an incident in the metro’s Northern Suburbs of a resident receiving a WhatsApp message stating that their electricity would be disconnected due to municipal account arrears. This happens in suburbs across Cape Town. The scammers, fraudsters wanting to pocket a little extra cash this festive season, typically request urgent payment to be made to avoid service disconnection.
Appeal
“We appeal to residents to remain alert and report all suspicious messages purporting to be from the City. Cape Town residents are advised to be vigilant and to always pause and verify the message. 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. Importantly, all payments to the City must be made through official City channels, such as visiting a customer interaction 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 on 0860 103 089,” said the Mayco member for energy, Xanthea Limberg.
Tips for residents
- The City does not send WhatsApp messages about electricity disconnections.
- No City official may request payment through e-wallets or personal bank accounts.
- Payments must be made only through official City channels.
When the City works in your area:
If City staff or contractors visit your area or have an appointment with you, they must carry an identification card that:
- Displays the City logo
- Shows their full name
- Includes an embedded photo
If you are unsure about anyone’s identity, call the City’s Call Centre at 0860 103 089 to verify.
