George Municipality sounds alarm over disconnection scam
· The South African
Scammers are targeting residents in the Western Cape town of George by threatening to disconnect their electricity and water supply.
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This is according to the George Municipality, which has raised alarms about this particular scam involving fraudulent SMS messages.
Here’s everything you need to know:
SMS SCAM ALERT
In a statement released on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, the municipality said that residents are currently receiving fraudulent SMS messages from scammers posing as municipal officials.
In the messages, the scammer claims that the resident’s municipal account is in arrears. As a result, they have 14 days to make payment to avoid disconnection.
The messages are accompanied either by a fraudulent account number or an alternative reference number. Residents are subsequently instructed to make a payment into private or unknown bank accounts.
Naturally, this can induce panic in residents who fear being disconnected, prompting them to make these payments.
STAY VIGILANT
“George Municipality does not send SMS messages with alternative or ‘Fake Account Numbers’ for payment, does not demand payment via SMS, WhatsApp or phone, and does not disconnect electricity meters or water supply for accounts in arrears,” the statement reads.
What’s more, as a resident of George, you are reminded that the municipality’s bank account details can be found on their official municipal statements. No other bank details are valid for George Municipality.
If you receive these messages, as well as requests for payment or other suspicious activity – such as calls from so-called municipal officials – you are urged to report the matter to the South African Police Service. Alternatively, you can contact the Municipal Fraud Hotline at 0860 044 044.
For matters relating to your municipal account, contact 044 801 9111 or email [email protected]. Be sure to quote your municipal account number.
Remember to be on your guard this upcoming season, which is a period rife for scams like this one. To protect yourself against Black Friday AI and cyber scams, read on here.