THE eThekwini Municipality has issued a warning about individuals trying to extort money from residents. The City said these people were impersonating their employees from the electricity unit.
In a statement, the City said it had received a report about a recent spate of fraudulent activities.
“It has come to our attention that customers are contacted and told that their municipal accounts are in arrears. These impersonators threaten disconnection of services unless immediate payment is made, thereby attempting to coerce residents into providing financial information or making payments directly to them,” said the statement.
The municipality said it was investigating these cases with the South African Police Service with a commitment to protecting residents from fraud and a determination to identify how these criminals were acquiring sensitive customer information.
“Customers are reminded that legitimate municipal employees will never demand immediate payment over the phone or threaten disconnection without prior notice,” said the City.
The municipality encouraged residents to verify any claims made by individuals purporting to be municipal workers and to remain vigilant against potential scams.
Residents who received suspicious calls were urged to report these incidents immediately to the City’s Integrity and Investigations Unit at 0800 20 20 20 or via email at [email protected]
Sunday Tribune