Beware of pre-paid power scammers
An elderly resident says he was scammed by a group of professional con-artists, who made him believe he qualified for a electricity rebate.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous says that his trust exceeded his better judgement because of the believable spiel, in which the Steve Tshwete Municipality plays a central role.
The complainant says he was phoned on the morning of 11 February by a Mr Jameson, who inquired whether the complainant was aware of the 24 % electricity price hike, and that replacing his billing system with a prepaid one, could be financially beneficial.
Mr Jameson told the pensioner that the municipality had implemented an online pre-paid service, and that a municipal team was tasked with identifying certain pensioners who qualify for installation rebates.
For a registration fee of R550, the complainant would receive a pre-paid electricity meter for R5000, reduced from R9600.
Installation of the meter would cost the complainant only R600, and the package would come with a free solar roof panel, to reduce billable electricity usage.
Sometime after, a woman named Amanda phoned the complainant thrice, to inquire whether a municipal official, named Kyle, had arrived to formalize the discount deal.
Kyle later arrived at the pensioner’s doorstep and requested copies of the complainant’s municipal accounts and ID.
“According to Kyle I qualified and I proceeded handing him the R550 registration fee, without asking for his credentials, or a receipt,” the complainant says.
Kyle left with a promise of a detailed email summary of benefits by no later than the 13th.
“I’ve received nothing,” the pensioner says, adding that he would like to warn other residents of the scam.
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