Namakwa District communities are under siege by a wave of scams and fraudulent activities, prompting a stern warning for residents to exercise extreme caution before authorizing any transactions.
The Ritchersveld Local Municipality sounded the alarm last Friday, February 26, regarding an individual falsely claiming affiliation with the municipality. Identified as “Kenny Ngene,” purportedly the head electrician. Community members are being cautioned against engaging with this individual.
In a shocking revelation, the municipality confirmed Ngene’s status as a scammer who illicitly posed as a municipal official.
Ngene brazenly undertook debt collection activities on behalf of the municipality, targeting residents with outstanding arrears accounts. Employing intimidation tactics, the fraudster threatened to forcibly enter the premises and disconnect electricity if debts were not settled promptly.
The gravity of the situation escalated as the scammer disclosed the residential addresses of the municipality’s customers, raising concerns about potential security risks.
Consequently, residents are urged to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities or municipal offices.
Echoing the sentiment, the Hantam Local Municipality issued a firm warning to residents regarding imposters posing as municipal officials. These fraudulent individuals have contacted households, falsely claiming overdue accounts and seeking personal meetings to purportedly resolve arrears.
In a separate incident last year, extortion tactics proliferated on social media platform Facebook, with an unidentified individual offering to facilitate driver’s learners and licenses for a minimum fee of R2500.
Despite the alarming surge in fraudulent activities, no arrests have been made thus far.
Both municipalities emphasize that the warning aims to safeguard residents’ safety and financial interests from unscrupulous scammers. Residents are strongly advised to verify any communication with municipal offices directly and report fraudulent activities to the nearest police station promptly.
