The City of Johannesburg has issued an urgent warning to residents and property owners following an increase in sophisticated scams targeting municipal account holders. Criminals are impersonating City of Johannesburg, Johannesburg Water and City Power officials or contractors through fake emails, SMSes, telephone calls and door-to-door visits. In some cases, scammers visit properties with forged job cards and threaten immediate service disconnections, even when accounts are fully paid and up to date.
Residents have reported losses ranging from R3 500 to R120 000 after being pressured into transferring money into fraudulent bank accounts. Scammers are also using fake contact details and email domains, including addresses ending in @joburgcity.co.za, instead of the official @joburg.org.za domain.
Group Finance Director for Communications and Stakeholder Management, Kgamanyane Maphologela, condemned the scams. “We are deeply concerned by the increasing sophistication and physical audacity of these scams.
“A demand for cash, an EFT or immediate payment at your gate is a major red flag. No City official, technician or authorised contractor is permitted to collect payment from a resident at their property to prevent a disconnection.”
Residents are urged to:
- Do not pay: Never hand over cash or transfer money to anyone demanding payment at your property.
- Verify credentials: Request official identification and independently confirm your account status through the secure e-Joburg portal or official customer service centres.
- Report fraud: Immediately report suspicious activity to the City’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Hotline on 0800 002 587.
Residents should retain suspicious correspondence, telephone numbers, banking details, photographs and job cards to assist investigations
