The City of Cape Town has warned residents about a growing number of electricity scams, where individuals pose as City officials and demand payment of outstanding accounts or threaten to disconnect services.

Mayoral Committee member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg, says scammers are trying to make extra money by any means necessary.

“We recently became aware of an incident in the metro’s northern suburbs, where a resident received a WhatsApp message claiming their electricity would be disconnected due to arrears on their municipal account. This type of scam is happening across Cape Town. Fraudsters often request urgent payment to avoid service disconnection, especially during the festive season.”

She stressed the importance of reporting any suspicious messages claiming to be from the City as soon as possible.

“We urge residents to stay vigilant. The City does not notify residents of service disconnections via WhatsApp or social media, and no City official is permitted to request payment. Always pause and verify first by calling the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089.”

Limberg added that all payments to the City must be made through official channels.

“All payments should be made at a Customer Interaction office or electronically using the details provided on your monthly municipal bill.”

Also read: City warns of festive season fraudsters and housing scams