12/05/2015: The City cautions customers against “Changing of banking detail” scam
The City of Johannesburg is warning its customers to be aware of the “Changing of Banking Details” email scam.
Kgamanyane Maphologela, Director of Customer Communications says the City was made aware of the scam by one of its customers who received a fraudulent email alleging that the City has changed its banking account.
“At no point will the City send its clients an email regarding the information of sensitive nature. We therefore urge all our customers if they receive such suspicious emails to alert the City. If the customers are unsure of any information they receive by email, they must either call our customer care center or visit their nearest office,” says Maphologela.
The City’s fraud unit together with the implicated bank is investigating the matter.
Maphologela says the City has tightened its security by amongst others, no longer publishing its banking account number. This is to combat any fraudulent activity linked to the payment of the municipal accounts. Instead the City has a unique beneficiary number, i.e. AA45 for over the counter deposits at standard bank and is a prelisted beneficiary for electronic and ATM payments.
The City advises customers to always keep their nine digit municipal account handy when making payments; and to follow normal payment methods to avoid fraudsters.
“The customer’s nine digit municipal account is their unique customer reference number which they should always have handy for safer payments,” said Maphologela.
Payments can be made using any one of the following options:
Direct deposits to Standard Bank.
Payments can be made over the counter at any Standard Bank branch, county-wide.
Customers using this method must fill in the unique beneficiary number allocated to City of Johannesburg: AA45 in the account number field. Always remember to use your nine-digit municipal account number in the depositor's name or reference field. This will ensure that the deposit is allocated to the correct municipal account.
Payments over the counter must be accompanied by the customer's account.
Internet payments:
If you pay via internet banking, you must firstly delete the old CoJ beneficiary (Absa, Account Number 4054398463); and then add a new beneficiary from the pre-loaded beneficiary list with the title: City of Johannesburg Company Beneficiary. Remember to use your nine-digit municipal account number as your reference.
ATM, Telephone Banking and Other:
Customers who make payments made via stop order, telephone banking or the ATM must change banking details at their own banks. Debit Order customer need not make any changes.
3rd Party Payments:
Customers who pay via Easypay pay-points such as Pick 'n Pay, Checkers and Woolworths are not impacted. They should however remember to take along their barcoded municipal account and take note that their payment may take up to five days to register on the City's system.
Customer Service Centres:
Customer can pay their municipal account, in cash, at any of our 50 Customer Service Centres City wide.
ENDS
Issued by:
Kgamanyane Maphologela
Customer Communications & Stakeholder Management
Revenue Shared Services Centre
Group Finance
Phone: 011 358 3420
Fax: 011 358 3639
Cell: 060 633 0494
Email: stanmapho@joburg.org.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Interview scheduling and media queries:
Nkosana Lekotjolo
Cell: 0824679429
Email: nkosanal@joburg.org.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
