Would you buy electricity on credit? Picture: File.
Eskom issues warning over cheap prepaid electricity scam
Eskom says there are several cheap prepaid electricity adverts on social media aimed at scamming customers of their hard-earned cash.
Would you buy electricity on credit? Picture: File.
Eskom has urged its customers to buy prepaid electricity via legal outlets following several cheap electricity adverts on social media.
The power utility says scammers falsely advertise prepaid electricity for the municipality and/or Eskom on Facebook, X or WhatsApp and they offer more units for less than the normal price which makes it attractive to unsuspecting customers.
ESKOM WARNS CUSTOMERS ABOUT CHEAP PREPAID ELECTRICITY SCAM
Acting General Manager for Security at Eskom Botse Sikhwitshi said scammers do not provide bank details for deposits, but rather utilise money market, e-wallet or CashSend payments for the unsuspecting customers to send money as these transactions are hard to trace.
Sikhwitshi said to convince the customer to make a payment, the scammers would provide 20-digit recharge pins with the last three digits blanked out. The unsuspecting customer will be told that the last three digits will only become visible when the money is received.
“Once the customer pays the money, the scammer will go and withdraw such deposits, after which the customer will either be given the last three digits that do not work, or the scammer just disappears, throwing away their sim card which would not have been RICA listed and moves to the next target,” he explained.
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“The customers are duped for their hard-earned cash without receiving any recharge credit and often have no recourse. Eskom cautions customers not to fall prey to these scams,” added Sikhwitshi.
Customers have since been advised to buy credit tokens legally from a range of different registered vending point including banks, retail shops, smart phones, internet and ATMS.
“Eskom wishes to encourage the public to report information regarding illegal electricity sales, fraud, the theft of coal, fuel oil, and diesel and all other electricity-related crimes to the Eskom Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22. Reporting can be done anonymously.”
