Durban — The eThekwini Municipality and Msunduzi Municipality have warned the public about scammers impersonating their mayors.
Both municipalities alerted the public on Friday.
eThekwini mayoral spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa said it has come to mayor Cyril Xaba’s attention that a fraudster is soliciting money from the public in his name.
“We want to alert the public about this scammer who is sending WhatsApp messages asking people to send money to the mayor as his bank app has a problem,” Mntungwa said.
“This is a scam and members of the public should treat it as such.”
Mntungwa said Xaba has condemned this fraudulent activity and he is encouraging members of the public who come across such a scam to report it to the law enforcement agencies.
On its Facebook page, Msunduzi Municipality warned of a fake social media account.
“Residents are cautioned of a fraudster posing as His Worship the mayor councillor Mzimkhulu Thebolla,” the municipality said.
In a public notice, the municipality told residents there have been recent reports of a fraudulent Facebook account operating under Thebolla’s name.
“These fake accounts are purportedly offering job and tender opportunities in exchange for monetary payments. We want to make it absolutely clear that councillor Thebolla would never solicit money for jobs or any other purpose,” the public notice read.
The municipality said it follows a transparent tender process. Any available tenders within the municipality are advertised through official channels, including their website, local newspapers and other recognised advertising platforms.
“We urge all residents to exercise caution and avoid engaging with these fraudulent accounts. If you are approached by individuals or entities requesting money for job placements, tenders or any other services under the guise of being affiliated with councillor Thebolla, please report these incidents immediately,” the public notice read.
“Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or suspected scams to the SAPS. It is crucial to remain vigilant and protect yourself from potential fraud.”
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Daily News