The City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Directorate has issued an urgent warning to residents, particularly those in Belhar, about a scam that has been preying on vulnerable individuals seeking housing opportunities, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The fraudulent scheme involves poorly crafted letters and emails that falsely demand payment for purported housing placements, raising concern over the integrity and well-being of potential beneficiaries.
The communication in question contains glaring spelling errors and makes reference to ‘RDP houses,’ a term that the City has phased out in its housing initiatives.
Mayco for Human Settlements, Councillor Carl Pophaim has emphasised that the City does not charge individuals for housing opportunities and that there is no legitimate requirement for payment at any stage of the housing application process.
‘Residents are urged to remain vigilant. If you are asked to pay for any housing opportunity, it is a scam,’ Pophaim said in a statement.
‘The City does not charge for housing opportunities, and qualifying residents will never be asked to pay for placement on the City’s Housing Needs Register or for the allocation of housing opportunities. It is crucial that residents do not make any payments or share personal information with unknown individuals.’
The City has encouraged residents to verify any communication related to housing opportunities. ‘All legitimate communication about City housing opportunities will come directly from City officials through our formal and verifiable channels,’ Pophaim added.
‘If in doubt, residents should always call the City’s Human Settlements Call Centre at 021 444 0333 for confirmation.’
In addition to these warnings, the City has outlined measures for reporting such scams. A Fraud Hotline is available at 0800 32 31 30, and residents can also email [email protected] for assistance.
The Human Settlements Call Centre operates from Monday to Friday between 7:30am and 4:30pm, providing a reliable resource for those who may have questions or concerns.
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Picture: Markus Winkler / Unsplash
