Scam: Metro stresses it does not accept Bitcoin payments

Pretoria residents and businesses have been warned that Bitcoin is not a form of payment Tshwane has authorised or accepted.

The metro has issued a statement for all in the metro to be wary of a scam circulating on social media purporting that the municipality accepts Bitcoin payments.

Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said a post was making the rounds on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that the municipality accepts Bitcoin payments for utility bills and services at retail businesses.

It further states that transactions can be processed with Bitcoin at any Pick n Pay store.

Mashigo said the information is entirely false and misleading.

“The metro distances itself from these malicious advertisements as it has not entered into such an agreement.”

He added that residents can pay their municipal bills through:

– e-Tshwane (24/7 online service)
– City of Tshwane Customer Care walk-in centres
– Retail outlets: Pick n Pay, USave, OK, SPAR, Boxer, Caltex, and BP
– Post Office.

For traffic fines, payment centres are located at:

– 174 Visagie Street, Pretoria
– 100 Napier Road, Centurion
– Corner of Daan de Wet Nel Drive and Willem Cruywagen Avenue, Winternest
– Licencing Office, corner of General Louis Botha and Kruger streets, Bronkhorstspruit

Mashigo warns individuals attempting to extort money from residents that they will face arrest, charges and prosecution for their actions, which border on criminality.

Residents are urged to report suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

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