Eskom warns of con artists

ESKOM has warned its customers about con artists, operating in the Northern Cape and Free State, who are pretending to be Eskom contractors and claim to test, replace or calibrate Eskom meters.

Eskom spokesperson, Stefanie Jansen van Rensburg, said that they had received numerous reports of customers who have been defrauded by this scam.

“Customers are told to pay up front or directly into a bank account, although no meter tests were conducted.”

She indicated that these persons were not in any way affiliated to Eskom.

Jansen van Rensburg reminded customers that all payments to Eskom should be done through the normal billing system into the bank accounts provided on their Eskom bills.

She advised that no cash should be given to any Eskom employee or contractor visiting customers’ premises and that no payments should be made into a bank account other than the one officially provided by Eskom on the Eskom bill.

“As an Eskom customer, payments for services rendered will always be required to be made directly to Eskom and never to an Eskom contractor.

“Customers are urged to be vigilant of opportunists who are purposefully exploiting members of the public.”

She also urged the public to report any suspicious persons or activities to the Eskom contact centre on 08600 ESKOM / 37566 or by calling the Eskom Fraud Hotline on 0800 11 2722.