Two separate incidents of scammers posing as City of Cape Town electricity officials to gain access to residents’ homes have been reported to Rondebosch Police Station in the past two weeks.
On Thursday 23 June at 10:00, a Park Lane resident was at home when a man knocked on her door, pretending to be a City employee.
According to WO Lyndon Sisam, for corporate communication at the police station, the suspect said he wanted to check the electricity meter and the plugs.
“So the complainant let him in and he went around the house, checking the plugs. After he left, the complainant discovered that her brown purse and Samsung cellphone were gone,” says Sisam.
Using a similar modus operandi, two men wearing work suits gained access to a home in Chester Road on Tuesday 14 June at 14:00.
The resident, who was at home at the time, told police the two suspects claimed that they were there to check the electricity meter.
“The one suspect was busy in the kitchen and the other went to check the plugs in the bedroom. They then said they were going to their car and they’ll be back and he must wait for them outside the house,” says Sisam.
The suspects then drove off in their vehicle.
“When the complainant went inside the house, he discovered that his wallet and cellphone, which he had left in the kitchen, were gone.”
The City’s Mayco member for energy Beverley van Reenen says the City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department does not have staff or contractors going door-to-door to check on infrastructure without an appointment and the City does not solicit or arrange general appointments via social media.
“When the City needs to visit your home, our officials will make the necessary appointment with you.”
Van Reenen says that all municipal workers and contractors must carry a work order number specific to that dwelling and a City-issued identification card. “Residents should please ask to check the official identification card as well as verify the work order reference number with the City’s Call Centre before allowing anyone onto their property.”
Earlier this month, the City’s energy directorate sent out a media statement, warning residents of a scam being circulated online. By either offering electricity prepaid units at a discounted rate via social media and WhatsApp advertising or by posing as City employees online, wanting to test or read electricity meters, scammers were trying to obtain the personal details of customers, their money or access to their premises.
Van Reenen says another typical example of an online scam is where a person claims to be able to provide residents with electricity prepaid tokens at a substantially discounted rate.
“These should be avoided and reported to the City. Any units bought via this scam will not be accepted by City prepaid electricity meters,” she says.
Tips for residents:
- Always verify the official’s City-issued identification card and work order number when an official visits your home.
- 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 any suspicious behaviour to the City’s law enforcement agencies or the City’s Fraud Hotline on 0800 323 130 or the police.
