These ”officials” sell prepaid electricity meters and demand spot fine payments for meter boxes which have allegedly been tampered wit.
According to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, the metro has received reports of customers receiving hand-delivered letters and being approached by the fraudsters, who offer to install prepayment electricity meters at a fee.
“The prepayment meters that are installed by the scammers have, in fact, been stolen from other municipalities and, whenever the customer buys electricity, the payment amounts are allocated to the municipality that owns the stolen meter, and not the metro,” he said.
To avoid becoming a victim of crime, residents are advised to follow the following golden rules:
*Do not to make direct payments or pay spot fines to an individual claiming to be a municipal official. All payments must be over the counter, inside the metro’s rates halls.
*Upon receiving a letter addressed from the metro, make a follow up call through the call centre or the 999 number provided on the letter, before making any payments.
*Residents wishing to change from the conventional credit meter to a prepaid meter should visit their nearest Electricity Service Centre and fill in an application form at their nearest Customer Care Centre.
*Always request a legitimate receipt that can be kept as proof of payment.
“If an unlawful prepaid meter is discovered by meter auditors, the illegitimate prepaid meter will be confiscated and the electricity supply will also be disconnected.
“A reinstatement fee of R2 118.60, including VAT, will be charged and a backdated account will be levied.”
Any illegal activities or suspicious behaviour should be reported through the municipal Call Centre on 086 054 3000.
For more information on prepayment meters visit www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/prepayment-meters.
