How to Tell If That ‘City of Joburg’ SMS Is Real or a Scam in Johannesburg 2025

Ever get that urgent City SMS that freaked you out?

It starts with “URGENT,” threatens water disconnection, or demands payment. And sometimes, it even looks legit. But in 2025, Joburg residents are more targeted than ever, and that’s worrying.

Also read: Johannesburg Emergency Numbers 2025: Your Quick Guide to Getting Help Fast

Why it looks so real

Scammers have become alarmingly polished. They:

• Use real names of City officials

• Spoof local numbers to appear legitimate

• Drop into real SMS threads from the City

• Pressure you with phrases like “immediate action required” or “final warning”

Local councillors across Johannesburg have confirmed widespread reports of these fake messages. And once a scammer gets your money? It’s almost impossible to recover.

Five red flags to spot a fake City of Joburg message

1. Urgent or threatening tone
Real City messages are informative, never aggressive.

2. Payment requests via WhatsApp or personal accounts
The City will never ask you to pay through WhatsApp or EFT to a private bank account.

3. Strange or spoofed phone numbers
If it looks long, foreign, or off-brand, it’s probably not the City.

4. Suspicious links or bad grammar
Poor spelling, strange phrasing, or shortened URLs? Don’t trust it.

5. Requests for private info
The City of Joburg will never ask for your ID number, bank details, or passwords via SMS or WhatsApp.

How to check if a City SMS is legit

If you’re unsure about a message:

• Don’t reply, click, or call back

• Visit www.joburg.org.za for updates

• Call Joburg Connect on 0860 56 28 74 to verify

• Report fraud to:

  • Fraud Hotline: 0800 002 587

  • Email: [email protected]

  • SMS line: 32840

  • SAPS, if money was sent or someone attempted fraud

Image 1: Opportunities For Africans

Verifying in-person visits

Scammers have also impersonated City workers at homes and businesses. Joburg Water and City Power officials must:

• Wear proper uniforms

• Carry official ID cards

• Appear in staff verification tools on the City’s website

When in doubt, confirm before letting anyone in.

What if you’ve already been scammed?

If you’ve made a payment to a scammer:

• Contact your bank immediately

• File a report with SAPS

• Share the warning with your neighbours; scammers often hit entire streets

Unfortunately, funds transferred to scammers are rarely recovered.

In 2025, fake City of Joburg SMS scams are everywhere, but they’re beatable.

Remember: the City will never

• Ask for payment via WhatsApp

• Request EFTs to private bank accounts

• Demand sensitive info via SMS

If something feels off, stop and double-check using official City channels. Because in Joburg, we hustle smart, not scared.

Also read: Top 10 Emergency Essentials Every Johannesburg Home Needs in 2025

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com

Featured Image: Pexels