The City has issued a warning about the latest electricity scam, advising residents to be wary of scammers posing as electricity officials who need to ‘scan the metre’ or ‘check plugs’.
Also read: Noordhoek couple survives attack in Philippi after Marketplace scam
‘A resident recently reported to us that two men had visited her home claiming they needed to scan the prepaid electricity meter and check plugs. The resident said they were well dressed, one with a reflective jacket and a “permit” attached to the jacket, with a clipboard in hand. Trusting that they worked for the City, the resident let them inside her home but soon realised they were not who they claimed to be and asked them to leave which they luckily did – but not before stealing her gold earrings,’ said the City’s mayoral committee member for energy, Beverley van Reenen.
‘This latest sad story is unfortunately one the City is all too familiar with. We urge residents to be aware of scammers posing as City officials or contractors to gain access to their homes. Once given access to residents’ homes, scammers often steal small personal items like jewellery and cash. In most cases, the elderly are targeted.’
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
‘We remind residents that the City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department will make an appointment with residents before visiting their home. Municipal employees and contractors must carry a work order number specific to the dwelling, as well as a valid City identification card. Before allowing anyone onto their property, residents should check the work order number and the identification card to ensure that it is legitimate.’
‘In this case, it is fortunate that the resident realised everything was not as it should be before anything far worse happened. We urge our residents to be aware of these scammers and take the necessary steps to ensure all visitors to their home are legitimate City employees or contractors.’
The identification card must include the City logo, the staff member’s or contractor’s name and surname, and an embedded photo. If residents are unsure, they should contact the City’s Call Centre at 0860 103 089.
Tips for residents:
- Always verify the work order number when an official visits your home
- Check the official’s City-issued identification card
- The ID card must display the City logo, the name and surname of the staff member or mandated contractor, and must contain an embedded photo of the staff member or mandated contractor
- If unsure, call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089
- Report suspicious behaviour to the City’s law enforcement agencies or to the SAPS
Any suspicious behaviour must be reported to the City’s law enforcement agencies, the City’s Fraud Hotline (0800 1100 77), or the South African Police Service (SAPS). The SAPS is still the leading authority in crime prevention.
Find you perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Picture: Nikita Nikitin / Pexels