The City of Cape Town has warned residents and businesses to remain alert following an attempted scam targeting a Large Power User customer with a fake electricity disconnection threat.
City Energy and Finance Directorates were alerted after the customer was contacted via WhatsApp by a scammer posing as a City official and demanding a large payment to avoid disconnection. The fraudster referenced the correct account number and requested payment into a private FNB account while pressuring the customer with repeated calls and messages.
Fortunately, the customer verified the request with the City before making any payment and settled the account through official channels.
The City emphasised that it never requests payments via WhatsApp and no official may ask customers to pay into personal bank accounts. Residents are urged to make payments only through official City channels, including municipal cash offices or electronic payments using details on monthly bills.
Authorities are encouraging the public to remain vigilant, pause before making payments and verify suspicious requests directly with the City’s Call Centre.
Residents can report suspected fraud to the City Call Centre on 0860 103 089, the Fraud Hotline on 0800 32 31 30, via email at fraud.hotline@capetown.gov.za, or to their nearest police station.
