NEWCASTLE – When it comes to giving information on the Internet, residents should always exercise caution.
An attempt last week to register on the Newcastle Municipality Customer Services Portal for e-billing, proved even official sites have their weaknesses.
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The municipality dispatched bulk SMSes two weeks ago with a website link.
The message invited residents to register through means of the portal, to receive monthly statements via email and by download.
The link takes a consumer onto the portal landing page.
After clicking on the link to register a new account, consumers can sign up as an individual or a business user, and read the terms, conditions and privacy policy.
The site then directs consumers to a page where personal information can be added.
At this point, consumers are meant to have their information verified, then be directed to a page where billing information is confirmed.
However, it was also at this point something went wrong.
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Advertiser Senior Reporter, Bruce Douglas was instead sent back to the personal information page, this time with another resident’s complete information on the screen.
This included a mobile number, email address and a full ID number.
The Advertiser contacted representatives from the Information Technology Department, supplying a screenshot of the information erroneously given by the site.
Officials promised the matter would be looked into.
At the time of going to print, however, no further updates had been given by the IT Department, on whether this was an isolated problem or one similar to the website hack on the former Newcastle Municipality site some years ago.
