Residents are being urged to remain vigilant after the Lesedi Local Municipality issued a warning about scammers attempting to trick people into paying municipal accounts into unauthorised bank accounts.

According to the municipality, fraudsters are targeting residents by providing false banking details and requesting payments for municipal rates and services.

These scams are designed to appear legitimate, which may lead residents to unknowingly transfer money to criminals.

The municipality emphasised that residents should only make payments into the official Lesedi Local Municipality debtors’ account at FNB (account number 62800613285).

Residents are advised to carefully check the banking details on their municipal statements before making any payments.

Payments can also be made directly at official municipal offices or through verified payment channels.

For those making electronic fund transfer payments, the municipality recommends asking their bank to confirm the recipient before completing the transaction to ensure the payment is going to the correct account.

The municipality encouraged residents who are unsure about payment details to contact the municipality directly for verification.

Residents who suspect fraudulent activity or believe they may have been targeted by scammers are urged to report it to the municipality immediately so that appropriate action can be taken.