BXC also warned against consumers attempting to bypass its smart meters using former electrical contractors or employees of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), who charge between R3 000 and R6 000 for bypasses – warning of huge fines if consumers are caught.
At the time of publication, BXC was dealing with as many as 10 bypasses to its smart meters.
The cheap pre-paid electricity scams operate on social media and do not involve the banking details of those buying the so-called 20-digit PIN numbers, which are given with the last three digits obscured.
Scammers obtain payment through e-Wallet or CashSend systems and avoid banks, Eskom has also warned.
The scammer then withdraws the money and disappears after throwing away the sim card originally used, leaving the payer with a useless PIN.
BXC Project Manager Dawid Dirks told Vaalweekblad that the pre-paid electricity scams would in any case not work on BXC smart meters, which has its own secure system and did not use a 20-digit PIN number.
Vaalweekblad is in possession of a photograph and name of a man who allegedly takes payments of up to R6 000 to do bypasses on smart meters in Vanderbijlpark, Sebokeng and Vereeniging, and has established he is a former electrical contractor in Emfuleni.
BXC has also said it is aware of the individual and urged members of the public to contact them if they see smart meter electrical boxes being broken into – call 016 100 6170 if you see smart meter electrical boxes being broken into and bypassed.
BXC electrical boxes are mainly white in contrast to the old green ELM electrical boxes, although some BXC boxes are also green.
“BXC and ELM have launched a campaign to track down all bypasses of smart meters and those found to have them could be fined up to R40 000 and still have to pay for electricity used as well as pay for repairs to electrical boxes”, said Dirks.
