THE Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has warned people about an RDP housing scam.
The department was responding to an incident where a woman paid money to a Facebook account called RDP House Application 2022/2023.
It was run by scammers pretending to be officials who could fast-track housing applications. A statement by the department read: “A Cape Town resident was the most recent victim who discovered she was scammed after arriving at the department’s office. In anticipation of the receipt of housing opportunity, she paid over R2 000 into a bank account to process her approval letter in one of the projects in Mitchells Plain.”
Acting department head Kahmiela August said there had been an increase in scams, especially on social media.
She said scammers were requesting their victims to pay a deposit or holding fee for a government house, a housing opportunity or an application to be processed. August said in many instances, vulnerable residents fell prey to these scams.
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“The latest victim that the department is aware of was scammed of over R2 000 by a certain Mr Mashilo she met on Facebook,” she said.
“Mr Mashilo presented himself as a department official and provided fraudulent paperwork as proof that the resident would be assisted with a house.
“Residents should be aware that no government official will ask you to pay any amount of cash for housing services.”
