Fake municipal bills & cheap-electricity offers

Two related tricks. First, a message or call says your municipal account is in arrears and you must pay now to avoid disconnection — but the bank account given is not the one on your real bill. Second, social-media ads sell "cheap prepaid electricity"; you EFT the money and no token ever arrives.

What to do: pay your municipal account only to the beneficiary and account number printed on your official bill, or a verified public beneficiary in your banking app — whether you pay by EFT, PayShap or any other method. Buy electricity tokens only from registered vendors — banks such as Standard Bank, Absa, FNB, Nedbank and Capitec, recognised shops, or official apps. Eskom does not sell discounted electricity on social media. If you believe you have been scammed, contact the SAPS on 10111.