The City of Tshwane has warned the public that scammers are targeting Tshwane clients to scam them out of money. Many residents in areas of Hartbeespoort receive their electricity supply from Tshwane.
“The City of Tshwane has been notified about people purporting to be officials from the city’s revenue collection team calling customers and threatening to disconnect their power supply claiming that their accounts are in arrears,” said spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.
“We want to warn the public not to entertain these perpetrators, as this is a scam. The city does not call customers to inform them that their accounts are in arrears and that officials are coming to disconnect them. As part of the city’s revenue collection programme, technicians are dispatched, without warning, to disconnect properties that are in arrears. In situations where a customer receives a call from our credit control, the official will introduce himself/herself, the reason for the call, the property which is owing, the amount owed and the last time payment was made to the account in question. The customer would then be directed to make a payment at the nearest City of Tshwane’s Walk-in Customer Service Centre or advised to make a payment arrangement at the municipal offices.”
Alternatively, customers would be advised to make a payment into the city’s bank account which will be provided by the official. “We wish to warn those who are trying to extort money from our customers that they will be arrested, charged and prosecuted, as their actions border on criminality.”