Warning! Here are the Top Five scams hurting residents

Warning! Here are the Top Five scams hurting residents

18 September 2026

The City warns residents about ongoing scammers targeting residents. The scams cover a range of issues from service disconnections to fake job and housing opportunities. Residents are urged to always pause and verify any request through official City channels.

‘The City is alerted regularly about various incidents where residents are contacted, often via WhatsApp, by individuals falsely claiming to represent the City. The scammers allege municipal accounts are in arrears and demand immediate payment to prevent the disconnection of water or electricity services. They promise job or housing opportunities in exchange for payment. The scammers also pretend to be responsible for traffic fine payment. These are not real and residents should always take a moment to pause and verify. Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

 ‘Residents are reminded that payments must only be made through official City payment channels. The City does not use WhatsApp to notify residents of account arrears or service disconnections. No City official may request payment into a personal bank account, via e-wallet or through other informal payment methods. We thank our residents for always being cautious when approached by anyone purporting to be a City official and asking for payment. It is only through working together, pausing and verifying that we can bring an end to this criminality,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Alderman Siseko Mbandezi.

Top Five City scams:

Payment to prevent water or electricity disconnection: The City does not notify residents of service disconnections via WhatsApp or social media. No municipal employee or contractor will ever ask residents to pay via e-Wallet, CashSend, or a personal bank account.

Payment for a state-subsidised house: The City does not request payment from residents to register on the Housing Needs Register or to receive a state-subsidised home.

Traffic fines: The City does not request payment for unpaid traffic violations via SMS, email, or WhatsApp. Residents are encouraged to check on cityofctviewfines.co.za and to make payment through paythat.co.za.

Outstanding on- or off-street parking fees: Parking fees are paid directly to the official parking marshals at the time of parking. Where parking has not been paid, residents are encouraged to log a query to make arrangements.  

Job opportunities: The City does not recruit via WhatsApp messages, flyers, or word of mouth. The City does not charge a fee for job opportunities, which includes completing or updating jobseeker forms, interviews, contracts, EPWP and internship opportunities  

scams

Pause. Verify.

If you receive a message threatening disconnection and demanding immediate payment, contact the City first to verify the claim. Never make an urgent payment without first confirming the request is legitimate.

Important reminders:

  • The City does not notify residents of account arrears or service disconnections via WhatsApp.
  • Never provide personal or banking information or click on suspicious links.
  • Only make payments through official City channels.

Report suspicious activity and verify:

  • Call Centre: 0860 103 089
  • Fraud Hotline: 0800 32 31 30
  • Email: fraud.hotline@capetown.gov.za
  • SAPS: Contact your nearest police station (SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention).

 

For more information on the City’s payment and support options, please visit: https://bit.ly/4gWE072

 

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