Residents in Craighall Park and surrounding areas are urged to remain vigilant as reports emerge of a new scam involving criminals posing as Johannesburg Water officials.

In a recent incident, a non-descript vehicle arrived at a residence and individuals began digging out the property’s water meter. The scammers then contacted the homeowner, demanding an immediate deposit into their account to prevent the removal of the meter. If the homeowner refused, they were left without a meter and no water. “These criminals appear to have access to arrears information, using it to pressure their victims into making payments,” says Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing & Communications at Fidelity ADT.

Hattingh warns that this is the latest in a string of scams where criminals pose as service providers. “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,” she says.

To protect yourself, Fidelity ADT advises the following:

• Always verify credentials – If someone arrives claiming to be from Johannesburg Water or any other service provider, ask for official identification and contact the company directly to confirm their legitimacy.
• Do not make payments on demand – Legitimate municipal workers do not request immediate payments via bank transfers or cash.
• Be cautious of unexpected visits – If you were not notified about maintenance work in your area, treat unexpected visitors with suspicion.
• Report suspicious activity – Alert your security provider or local authorities if you see individuals digging near water meters or acting suspiciously.

Keep a panic button nearby – Fidelity ADT recommends that residents always have a remote panic button on hand to quickly alert security services if needed.

“We encourage residents to stay aware and report any suspicious individuals attempting to tamper with meters,” concludes Hattingh. “By working together, we can prevent criminals from exploiting our communities.”

If you have been targeted by this scam or noticed similar activity in your area, report it immediately to your security provider and Johannesburg Water.