Niël Terblanché
The Municipality of Walvis Bay has warned residents to guard against a scam that is currently being perpetrated on individual account holders.
According to a statement issued by the local authority, an individual, operating under the name De Waal, falsely claims to be a senior municipal official.
“The scammer alleges that customers’ water supply is at risk of being disconnected because their accounts are in arrears. It is important to note that the scammer may also operate under an alternative identity,” the statement said.
Residents of Walvis Bay are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to the scheme. The municipality said that scam tricks individuals into surrendering their hard-earned money and personal information.
The Municipality of Walvis Bay advised residents that it does not initiate phone calls demanding immediate payments from residents.
“Be wary of any unsolicited calls requesting the immediate settlement of an account,” the local authority said.
Residents were urged to exercise caution when approached by individuals posing as municipality representatives and to refrain from making any form of payment to suspicious individuals without verifying their identity.
“Never disclose personal information, such as identification numbers or bank account details, to strangers or unfamiliar parties. In the event of receiving a call from suspicious individuals making such claims, promptly report the matter to the nearest police station for further investigation,” the warning reads.
The local authority said that it is very important for residents of Walvis Bay to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity related to the scam to law enforcement agencies.
“By working together as a community, we can effectively combat such fraudulent acts and protect our fellow citizens from falling victim to scammers,” the statement said.
Residents are also encouraged to contact the Walvis Bay Municipality directly to verify the authenticity of claims made by the scammers.
