Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has warned prospective home owners from being scammed into paying for fake title deeds and housing approval letters.
A WhatsApp message claiming to assist people in receiving a house within two weeks had been circulating, the department said. Scammers ask people to pay R2 300 for an approval letter and title deed to qualify for the housing opportunity.
Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said: “Vulnerable residents often fall prey to these scams in the hope of being assisted, or bumped up on the waiting list for a government housing opportunity.
“In most cases, money exchanged due to fraudulent scams is not recovered. To be considered for a government housing opportunity, citizens need to be registered on the housing database at their local municipality.”
Targeted areas include Khayelitsha, Stellenbosch, Montana, Paarl and Mitchells Plain.
The department added that people should be aware that placement on the housing data base requires no payment. Neither does applying for a housing subsidy, or any government-related housing service. The request for payment should immediately alert people to the offer being a scam.
Acting department spokesperson Muneera Allie said scammers often had some knowledge of how government housing worked, and even created fraudulent approval letters and correspondence that looked authentic and lawful.
“While some residents are also aware of how the system works, the mere suggestion of being bumped up on the waiting list prompts them to find the means to pay a requested fee to fast-track the process.
“During 2022, one victim arranged for a R2 000 loan in order to pay for an ‘approval letter’. Due to the nature of these scams and false social media accounts created to rip-off residents, it is challenging to crack down on these con artists,” she said.
People are advised to contact the department, or any municipal housing office, to verify and check a housing social media post or advertisement’s legitimacy.
To report any fraudulent scams, members of the public are urged to contact their nearest police station.
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