New criminal tactic hitting homeowners with water meters in South Africa

Fidelity ADT has warned homeowners with water meters to remain vigilant as reports emerge of a new scam involving criminals posing as water officials.

The security services group noted increased incidents in Johannesburg, especially in Craighall Park and its surrounding areas.

According to Fidelity’s report, 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 or water.

According to Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing & Communications at Fidelity ADT, criminals work with insiders, which makes it harder to question whether they are legitimate employees.

“These criminals appear to have access to arrears information, using it to pressure their victims into making payments,” Hattingh said.

This is just one example of a broader trend where criminals impersonate municipal workers or maintenance contractors to gain access to properties or extort money.

“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.

While this tactic of posing as service providers isn’t new, how it is carried out changes depending on the circumstances.

In Cape Town, for instance, elderly couples in Kraaifontein have been targeted by criminals pretending to be municipal workers.

In one case, two men wearing City of Cape Town shirts and carrying matching ID cards gained access to a home by claiming they needed to inspect the electricity meter.

They used a device resembling a scanner, making the act appear legitimate and making the scam more convincing, and addressed the elderly homeowner by his name.

Similar incidents have also been reported in Durban last year, prompting the eThekwini Municipality to issue a warning about people impersonating their employees.

Similar to the cases flagged in Joburg, these scammers contact residents, claiming their municipal accounts are in arrears and threatening disconnection of services unless immediate payment is made.

They attempted to coerce residents into providing financial information or making payments directly to them.

How to keep safe

Given the rise of these incidents, Fidelity ADT has provided several safety tips for homeowners to protect themselves from falling victim to this scam.

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,” said 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, it is crucial to report it immediately to your security provider and Johannesburg Water.

As criminals continue to adapt their tactics, security experts like Fidelity stress that staying vigilant and taking precautionary measures can help safeguard your property and personal information.