Beware of bogus officials
|Published
WARNING: Imposters WARNING: Imposters
The City of Cape Town has warned residents to be on the lookout for scammers posing as City electricity officials, in order to gain access to residents’ homes.
Criminals dressed in municipal clothing and carrying some form of identification operate by visiting residents at their homes and insisting they open the front door so that electricity infrastructure, including the meter, can be checked.
While one scammer talks to the resident, the other steals small,
personal items.
It appears that elderly residents are especially being targeted.
WARNING: Imposters
“The City does not have members of staff going door-to-door to check on infrastructure without an appointment,” said Mayco Member for Energy and Climate Change, Phindile Maxiti.
“The City does check on electricity meters every so often but must make an appointment with the resident.
“All municipal workers and contractors must carry a work order number specific to that dwelling and a City-issued identification card.
“Residents should ask to check the official identification card before allowing anyone onto their property.
“The identification 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.
“Residents are not to allow anyone onto their premises until they have verified these details.”
The City is currently rolling out a free electricity meter replacement programme across the metro, and says it informs residents by doing mailbox drops and targeted marketing of any planned work to be carried out in the area.