10-07-2025
Scammers pose as municipal staff in WhatsApp scam
There is a scam doing the rounds in Vryheid, where alleged employees of the AbaQulusi Local Municipality threaten to disconnect people's electricity supply due to arrears on municipal accounts. The scammers contact consumers via WhatsApp messages.
Ward 8 Councillor Elaine Rodway issued the following statement regarding the scam:
'It has come to my attention that there is a scam taking place within our community (it appears to be mostly in town at the moment), where a man claiming to be from the municipality contacts consumers via WhatsApp to notify them that their electricity is going to be disconnected within the next few hours due to outstanding payment.
'Please be advised that AbaQulusi Municipality will NEVER notify you via WhatsApp of disconnection due to non-payment.
'Please report any incidents of this nature and do not send money to anyone claiming to be from the municipality without proper verification.'
ALSO READ: Dundee SAPS issues warning about online scams and criminals impersonating police officers
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
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