Human settlements dept warns of Facebook scam
All inquiries related to housing should be directed to official departmental centres, says a human settlements official.
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has warned residents to beware of a fake Facebook account in its name.
The department said the fake account seeks to lure and extort unsuspecting residents into paying a fee to obtain a title deed for their property.
The department urged residents to make all housing queries at official government centres in the province.
It further encouraged the public to report the criminal element or corruption in government housing via the Gauteng hotline on 0860 428 8364.
Departmental spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the Facebook account was not operated by his department.
“That is the work of unscrupulous individuals, who are using it for their corrupt deeds. We have reported many of these fake accounts to relevant law enforcement agencies, so that those responsible, can face the wrath of the law,” he said.
He said the department would communicate with all those who had yet to receive their deed officially when to collect it.
According to Ngobese, this is not the first time criminals have tried to take advantage of residents.
He said criminals previously distributed flyers, forms, posters and other notices with a departmental logo via social media to dupe residents into buying an RDP house, title deed or land.
When asked what plans it had to deal with these criminals, the department said it was working with law enforcement agencies and also running several awareness initiatives to warn residents.
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