Twenty residents in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) have been defrauded of over R2-million through various fraudulent scams across the city, with one being a fake tender office for waste wheelie bins on Van Buuren Road in Bedfordview.
CoE spokesperson Themba Gadebe urged the public to be aware of multiple types of scams that have been identified in recent months using the CoE’s name.
He said CoE has received numerous complaints from people who have been been defrauded of their money.
Gadebe said the most popular scam is a fake tender for waste wheelie bins.
Also read: UPDATE: Ekurhuleni distances itself from bogus wheelie bin tender
“The perpetrators of this criminal act sends possible service providers an appointment letter bearing the CoE logo together with the fraudulently generated order number purported to come from the city.
“Service providers are thereafter requested to deposit a certain amount of money and they are told to deliver the 260-litre wheelie bins at 47 Van Buuren Road in Bedfordview,” said Gadebe.
Also read: Time to use your wheelie bins
In other scams, Gadebe said citizens are requested to participate in a tender for supply and delivery of electrical mobile metering devices for technicians.
“Ratepayers are also a target by being issued with fake letters of water supply termination due to alleged meter tampering and subsequently requested to pay a “spot fine” for reconnection or retention of services,” said Gadebe.
Also read:Wheelie bin lid theft concerns resident
He added that Grant in Aid applicants are requested to pay R2 500 to fast-track processing of their applications along with job applicants who have been requested to pay money for their applications to be processed.
“The city informs all Grant in Aid and job applicants that applications for Grant in Aid are handled and processed free of charge and all job vacancies and applications are done online through the city’s website, www.ekurhuleni.gov.za,” said Gadebe.
The following tips provided by CoE can assist to differentiate scammers from legitimate CoE communication:
• The name of the city is City of Ekurhuleni, not Ekurhuleni Municipality.
• Landlines in the city have the 999 prefix.
• The email address for staff is: person’sname.surname@ekurhuleni.gov.za and not XXX@ekurhuleni-gov.org or any other variation.
• The tender office of the city is not situated at 47 Van Buuren Road, Bedfordview.
• The city urges companies and individuals to be vigilant and to verify information on the website (www.ekurhuleni.gov.za).
Gadebe said bidders can contact Hannes.vSchalkwyk@ekurhuleni.gov.za or Siphokazi.Xokozela@ekurhuleni.gov.za
Report fraud to 0800 102 201.
