Cape Town residents warned of water disconnections scam

The City of Cape Town has urged its residents to be aware of a scam doing the rounds, where money is solicited from the city's customers to avoid supposed water restrictions/disconnections due to non-payment. In a statement issued on Sunday, the city said it has been made aware of a new scam where the scammers contact a city customer via telephone or WhatsApp, claiming to be from the city's Water and Sanitation Directorate. The scammers then provide the relevant property details, advising that the water to the property will be disconnected immediately due to the municipal account being in arrears. The customer is then told that to avoid water supply disconnection and the subsequent reconnection fee, a payment more than R2 000 must be made via cash send or e-wallet. The city's Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said at least two separate incidents of this nature have been reported to the city, affecting customers in Parklands and Durbanville, whose municipal acco unts were both up to date. 'We appeal to residents to be extra vigilant and rather verify any suspicious correspondence that they receive directly with the city. We are particularly concerned about customers who do find themselves in arrears with their municipal accounts, who would easily be lured to make payments to avoid their water from being disconnected or restricted,' Badroodien said. The city has advised residents to report any suspicious behaviour to the city's law enforcement agencies or the city's fraud hotline on 0800 1100 77, or to the South African Police Service. 'Customers are also encouraged to make use of the various city communication channels to verify any communication they receive from the city,' Badroodien said. The information can be verified on 0860 103 089; via SMS to 31373 (maximum 160 characters, free SMSs do not apply); WhatsApp 060 018 1505; email [email protected], log a service request (often called a C3 request), or online www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests. Sourc e: South African Government News Agency