30 January 2009

By Keotshepile wa Mogotsi

WHEN a Mogale City ratepayer received a notice glued to his monthly account stating that the municipality had changed its banking details and giving the new details for payment, he called the City to confirm.

And it was the right call to make, as municipal officials at once detected a scam.

"Someone is trying to rob consumers of their money," said Mogale City's treasury specialist, Marietjie Rossouw.

In response, ratepayers have been warned to be alert for the fraudulent notice that is doing the rounds, with the municipality confirming that the notice is a scam. The fraudsters, who are as yet unknown, are printing the notice on a copied Mogale City letterhead. According to Rossouw, the matter was brought to the municipality's attention when a concerned consumer inquired about the matter.

"It has come to our attention that somebody intercepted some of our consumers' accounts and fixed a notice to the accounts notifying the consumers that Mogale City's banking details for [electronic funds transfer] payments had changed. It quotes a Standard Bank account number."

The notice was also packaged in a slapdash fashion, with no dates. It was glued to the inside of the account statement, and then the statement was glued closed.

Rossouw, who received a call from the concerned consumer on 20 January, said Standard Bank had confirmed that the account existed and it had referred the matter to the bank's fraud risk unit for investigation.

It is also being investigated by the South African Police Service, which will arrest those involved.

Mogale City's revenue services manager, Mamonare Tshoane, said ratepayers who had been duped and had paid their money into the fraudulent bank account, should contact or visit the municipality.

"Consumers need to be alert at all times as the municipality does not take responsibility for payments made into wrong accounts. Consumers who were duped by the fraudsters are welcome to make alternative arrangements to settle their debt," Tshoane said.

The correct Mogale City municipal bank account is:

Bank: First National Bank
Branch name: Transactional banking services
Branch code: 25505
Account number: 6204 524 2469
Account name: Mogale City Local Municipality

All ratepayers who were affected by the scam are urged to visit the municipal offices or call 011 951 2000 to make payment arrangements. To confirm the municipal bank account, consumers can call the Mogale City call centre on 086 166 4253.

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