Cape Town residents are being warned about a number of scams involving fake City officials, bogus payment demands and promises of jobs or housing, Cape {town} Etc reports.
‘The City is alerted regularly about various incidents where residents are contacted, often via WhatsApp, by individuals falsely claiming to represent the City,’ said City’s MMC for Finance, Alderman Siseko Mbandezi.
In some cases, scammers allege that municipal accounts are in arrears and threaten residents with water or electricity disconnections unless an urgent payment is made. Others offer jobs or state-subsidised housing in exchange for money.
‘The scammers also pretend to be responsible for traffic fine payment,’ Mbandezi added.
Residents are urged to pause and verify any unexpected request before handing over money or personal information.
Here are five scams residents should be aware of:
1. Fake water and electricity disconnection notices
One scam involves residents receiving messages claiming that their municipal accounts are in arrears and that their water or electricity will be disconnected unless they make an immediate payment.
The City says it does not notify residents of service disconnections via WhatsApp or social media.
Municipal employees and contractors will also never ask residents to pay into a personal bank account or through informal payment methods such as e-Wallet or CashSend.
2. Paying for a state-subsidised house
Residents should also be wary of anyone offering to secure a state-subsidised home in exchange for payment.
The City says it does not charge residents to register on the Housing Needs Register or to receive a state-subsidised home.
Any request for money in exchange for registration or assistance in securing a subsidised house should therefore raise a red flag.
3. Fake traffic fine payments
Another scam involves messages claiming that residents have outstanding traffic violations and demanding payment via SMS, email or WhatsApp.
The City says it does not request payment for unpaid traffic violations through these channels.
Residents can check their traffic fines through City of Cape Town View Fines and make payments through Paythat.
4. Outstanding parking fees
Scammers may also claim that residents have unpaid on- or off-street parking fees and demand payment.
The City says parking fees are paid directly to official parking marshals at the time of parking.
Where parking has not been paid, residents are encouraged to log a query with the City to make arrangements rather than responding to an unsolicited payment request.
5. Fake City job opportunities
Jobseekers are another target, with scammers offering supposed City employment opportunities in exchange for money.
The City says it does not recruit through WhatsApp messages, flyers or word of mouth, nor does it charge a fee for job opportunities.
This includes purported fees for completing or updating jobseeker forms, interviews, contracts, Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) opportunities or internships.
Pause before making a payment
The City is urging residents to be particularly cautious when faced with messages demanding immediate payment.
‘Residents are reminded that payments must only be made through official City payment channels. The City does not use WhatsApp to notify residents of account arrears or service disconnections,’ said Mbandezi.
‘No City official may request payment into a personal bank account, via e-Wallet or through other informal payment methods.’
Residents should also avoid clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal or banking information in response to unsolicited messages.
If you receive a message threatening disconnection or demanding urgent payment, contact the City directly to verify the claim before taking any action.
How to report a suspected scam
Residents can contact the City to verify suspicious requests or report suspected fraudulent activity via:
* City Call Centre: 0860 103 089
* Fraud Hotline: 0800 32 31 30
* Email: [email protected]
* SAPS: Contact your nearest police station. SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention.
The City has urged residents to remain cautious when approached by anyone claiming to be a municipal official and asking for payment.
As Mbandezi put it: ‘It is only through working together, pausing and verifying that we can bring an end to this criminality.’
Original Source: CapeTown ETC
