THE eThekwini Municipality has issued a warning against scamsters posing as City officials, and charging the public to replace electrical boards.
According to eThekwini Municipality’s Acting Head of Communications, Mandla Nsele, the matter was brought to the City’s attention by a resident, who ‘wished to remain anonymous for personal safety reasons’.
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Nsele said the fraudster, who impersonated a City official, falsely advised the resident that the Municipality had ordered the replacement of the customers’ electricity boards and that it would automatically transmit the meter readings to the Municipality.
“The customer asked for verification and was subjected to a phone call to another individual pretending to work at the Municipality,” added head of revenue management, Peet du Plessis.
“The customer also paid in excess of R8 000 cash and was not provided with any receipts.” Du Plessis assured the public that the Municipality would never ask for cash on site.
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The victim thereafter contacted the Municipality.
“We urge customers to always be vigilant as there are fraudulent people looking to make a quick buck. If customers have not asked for any work to be conducted, it must be regarded as suspicious,” he said.
Customers can contact 080 311 1111 or the City Integrity and Investigations Unit on 0800 202020 if they witness or are subjected to such scams.
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