By Selloane Ntshonyane
- Scammers posing as City of Johannesburg, Johannesburg Water and City Power officials have taken between R3,500 and R120,000 from residents.
- The city said no official may ever collect cash or demand an EFT at a resident’s gate to stop a disconnection.
Scammers pretending to work for the City of Johannesburg are arriving at residents’ homes, threatening to cut off their water or electricity unless they pay on the spot.
The City of Johannesburg said the scammers use fake emails, SMSes and phone calls, and some arrive in person carrying forged job cards, posing as workers from Johannesburg Water, City Power or the city itself.
Residents have lost between R3,500 and R120,000 after being pressured into sending money to fraudulent bank accounts, in some cases even when their municipal accounts were already fully paid.
The city said one fake number currently in circulation is 076 237 2438. Scammers have also used fake email addresses ending in “@joburgcity.co.za,” instead of the real municipal domain, “@joburg.org.za.”
Kgamanyane Maphologela, the city’s Director for Communications and Stakeholder Management, condemned the scams.
“We are deeply concerned by the increasing sophistication and physical audacity of these scams,” Maphologela said.
“Residents must understand that a demand for cash, an EFT, or an immediate payment at their gate is a major red flag. No City official, technician, or authorised contractor is ever permitted to collect payment from a resident at their property to prevent a disconnection,” he said.
The city urged residents not to hand over cash or send money to anyone claiming to be a municipal official at their door. Residents should instead check their account status directly through the city’s official channels, and should not rely on information from strangers.
Anyone approached by a suspected scammer should report it to the City’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Hotline on 0800 002 587.
The city also advised residents to keep any suspicious letters, messages, phone numbers, banking details or job cards, as these could help investigations.
Pictured above: Scammers posing as City of Johannesburg workers are arriving at residents’ homes, threatening to cut off their water or electricity unless they pay on the spot.
Image source: Pexels
