Rising crime trend targeting water meters
Criminals are using a new tactic to gain access to South African homes through water meters.
Fidelity ADT has issued a warning following reports of criminals posing as water officials to scam residents, as reported by BusinessTech.
In Johannesburg, particularly in Craighall Park and surrounding areas, Fidelity ADT has noted a rise in scammers targeting water meters.
According to the report, an unmarked vehicle pulls up to a house, and individuals start digging around the water meter.
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The scammers then contact the homeowner, demanding an immediate deposit into their account to stop them from removing the meter.
If the payment isn't made, the homeowner is left without a water meter – and water.
Charnel Hattingh, group head of marketing and communications at Fidelity ADT, explains that these criminals might be working with insiders.
Hattingh warns that this makes it very hard to tell if they are legitimate employees.
"These criminals appear to have access to arrears information, using it to pressure their victims into making payments," she said.
This scam is part of a larger trend.
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Criminals are increasingly pretending to be municipal workers or maintenance contractors to trick people into handing over money or giving them access to their homes.
"We are seeing an increasing number of cases where criminals pretend to be municipal workers or maintenance contractors. They create an urgent situation to manipulate homeowners into making payments or granting them access to properties."
Hattingh added that while scams like these are not new, the way they are carried out keeps changing.
Fidelity ADT shared the following advice to keep yourself safe:
Verify credentials
Always verify credentials by asking for official identification and contacting the company directly if someone claims to be from Johannesburg Water or another service provider.Avoid immediate payments
Do not make payments on demand. Legitimate municipal workers do not request immediate bank transfers or cash.Be wary of unannounced visits
Be cautious of unexpected visits and treat any unannounced service appearance with suspicion.Report suspicious activity
Report any suspicious behaviour, especially if you notice individuals digging near water meters or acting oddly, to your security provider or local authorities.Have a panic button ready
Keep a remote panic button nearby, as Fidelity ADT recommends having one to quickly alert security services when needed.
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Images: African News Agency