Beware: Eskom warns customers about meter reading scam

 Eskom in the Free State has received numerous reports of customers who have been defrauded by scamsters pretending to be Eskom contractors responsible for testing, replacing or calibrating Eskom meters.

The scamsters call Eskom customers and tell them that they will be visiting them to test meters and replace faulty meters.  They then ask the customers to pay upfront, directly into their bank account.  After that the customer never hears from them again and no meter test is done.  When the customer calls Eskom to enquire about when the meter test will be done, Eskom informs them that the person who called them is not affiliated to Eskom in any way and that they were the victims of fraud.

Eskom reminds our customers that all payments to Eskom should be done through the normal billing system into the bank accounts as provided on their Eskom bills.  No cash should be given to any Eskom employee or contractor visiting customers’ premises and no payments should be made into a bank account other than the one officially provided by Eskom on the normal Eskom bill.  As an Eskom customer, payments for services rendered will always be required to be made directly to Eskom and never to an Eskom contractor.

Customers are urged to be vigilant of opportunists who are purposefully exploiting members of the public.

Suspicious persons or activities can be reported by calling the Eskom Contact Centre on 08600 ESKOM / 37566 or by calling the Eskom Fraud Hotline on 0800 11 2722.