SCAM artists are doing the rounds in South Durban, claiming to represent the eThekwini Municipality and Eskom in some cases, forcing unsuspecting people into handing over money for electricity meters that never materialise.
Bluff pensioners, Mr and Mrs Moffatt, were two such victims and were scammed out of R1,500 on Thursday, 7 August by two “polite, but quietly threatening men” who claimed to be working on behalf of the municipality and an affiliated sustainable energy company.
Jessie Moffatt (72) received a phone call from a man claiming to be from the municipality on Wednesday, 6 August who set up a meeting with him to discuss the roll-out of prepaid meters in the area.
“He told me they were speaking to everyone in the area and that the municipality had made it compulsory for all residents to have these new meters installed,” said Moffatt.
Two well-dressed men showed up at her house the next day in a white bakkie, with official documents in hand. “The documents looked like legitimate municipal papers.”
The men claimed all residents must have their electrical meters replaced with prepaid versions immediately or face a fine or go to court. “They then told us we needed to pay for it upfront and that it would be installed the following day. They produced a card machine and when I told them I only had a Sassa card, they said it would not work and I should pay them in cash.”
Having very little money on hand, Moffatt borrowed money from her brother and handed the men R1,500. After giving her a tax invoice, the men promised to return the next day to install the prepaid meter and left.
The men never returned and the contact details they provided proved to be fake.
When asked if municipal officials were rolling out such an initiative in the area, eThekwini Municipality head of communications, Tozi Mthethwa responded with an emphatic “no”.
“The municipality, after being made aware of this type of activity, sent out letters late last year to warn residents. The city has no intention of forcing people to go onto prepaid meters. Customers need to take down details such as registration numbers of vehicles and names then report them to our contact centre on 080-131-3111 to assist us in taking action against perpetrators. They can also report the matter to their local police stations,” he said.
Brighton Beach SAP is aware of a similar scam. “We warn those who are shopping online for electricity-saving meter devices of a scam that is doing the rounds within the Durban and surrounding areas, including the Brighton Beach policing area,” said communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux.
“Unsuspected victims will order the devices which promise to save them money on their monthly electrical expenses. A deposit will be made for the purchasing of this device as per agreement. Once the deposit is received, the electrical saving device is not delivered and the outstanding balance is demanded.
It has also been found that devices that were delivered were only useful for outbuilding use and not sufficient for a house, yet the cost incurred was for a device to support saving electrical expenses for a house.”
