This fake City Power employee is wanted for robberies in Joburg

A property owner in Sydenham, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted North Eastern Tribune and said that a man (pictured) visited his house and pretended to be an employee of the City of Johannesburg’s power utility, City Power.

The man is said to have come to their house claiming that their new smart meter was not working properly and his team needed to come and change it.

“He was carrying an office-looking clipboard and wearing a yellow safety vest under his tracksuit,” said a resident, adding that the man had a City Power identity card.

“We first let him in, but his knowledge of the smart meter seemed to be wrong. When he came back the second time we took a photo of his ID and then he was a bit hesitant to come in. He left, saying he would come back later.”

The resident then used the SMS ID verification service (38021) to check the man’s identity number. Anyone can use this service to verify an ID number and they will then receive an SMS with the person’s verified details.

“In this case we got back a message saying ‘invalid ID number’,” he said.

City Power’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, confirmed that they were aware of this case and were investigating it through the City’s Group Forensic Investigative Services (GFIS).

Mangena said the suspect was an imposter who allegedly robs residents by claiming he is a City Power employee. According to him, in a recent incident, the man presented himself to a customer as a ‘meter reader’ with a fake City Power card that showed the name Sifiso Khumalo. The imposter then allegedly assaulted the customer before stealing her son’s car and housing equipment, which included computers, jewellery and a cellphone.

“The person in the picture is neither a City Power employee nor a contractor at City Power and the card he is holding is a fake card,” City Power said in a statement on 26 February.

“City Power would like to assure residents that the name Acumen Software that appears on the card is a company of good reputation. It has no relations with criminal activities of the person appearing in the picture.”

According to the statement, they have referred this matter to the GFIS ‘for further investigations and to bring this perpetrator to book’.

City Power is warning residents not to allow any person, technician or contractor on to their property without first verifying credentials with City Power’s Security Risk Control Unit on 011 490 7911 or 011 490 7553 or 011 490 7900 or by contacting the Metering Call Centre number at 011 490 7484 and they also advise residents to contact their nearest police station.

Details: City Power on Twitter @CityPowerJhb; www.citypower.co.za

Have you been a victim of the City Power’s imposter? Tell us what happened by tweeting @NT_Tribune

Republished from North Eastern Tribune

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