The City of Johannesburg has issued an urgent warning to residents and property owners following an increase in sophisticated scams involving criminals impersonating municipal officials and authorised contractors.
According to the City, scammers are using a range of methods to target municipal account holders, including fake emails, SMS messages, telephone calls and door-to-door visits. In some cases, criminals have gone as far as physically visiting private properties, presenting forged job cards and claiming that services are about to be disconnected unless residents make immediate payments.
The scams are reportedly affecting even residents whose municipal accounts are fully paid and up to date. Victims have suffered significant financial losses, with reported amounts ranging from R3 500 to as much as R120 000 after being pressured into transferring money into fraudulent bank accounts.
The City said criminals have also been using fraudulent contact details to make their schemes appear legitimate. One of the numbers reportedly linked to the scams is 076 237 2438, while fake email addresses using domains such as “@joburgcity.co.za” are being used to impersonate officials. The City reminded residents that its official email domain is “@joburg.org.za”.
Group Finance Director for Communications and Stakeholder Management, Kgamanyane Maphologela, condemned the scams and warned residents against making payments to people who arrive at their homes demanding money to prevent a disconnection.
“We are deeply concerned by the increasing sophistication and physical audacity of these scams,” said Maphologela. “Residents must understand that a demand for cash, an EFT, or an immediate payment at their gate is a major red flag.”
Residents have been urged never to hand over cash or transfer money to individuals who arrive at their properties demanding payment. The City said no municipal official, technician or authorised contractor is permitted to collect payment directly from a resident at their property in exchange for preventing a service disconnection.
Property owners who are approached by individuals claiming to represent the City are encouraged to request official identification and independently verify their municipal account status through the secure e-Joburg portal or at an official customer service centre. Residents should avoid relying on contact details provided by the person making the demand and instead use verified City channels.
Suspicious visits, attempted extortion and fraudulent communications should be reported immediately to the City’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Hotline on 0800 002 587. Residents are also encouraged to keep any suspicious letters, SMSes, emails, telephone numbers, banking details, photographs, job cards and other information that could assist investigators.
The City reiterated that credit-control processes follow a formal written procedure and that residents experiencing financial difficulties should make payment arrangements through official municipal channels. Property owners are urged to remain vigilant and verify any claims of outstanding municipal debt before making payments.
