AA local resident has praised Marshall Security for their quick action in arresting a man allegedly posing as a municipal worker to scam residents. The suspect was caught on Tuesday, August 26, after he had reportedly been distributing fraudulent letters to households in the area.
The scam involved a bogus water bill, which falsely claimed that residents’ water supply would be cut off unless a fee was paid. One resident, Nathaniel Naicker, nearly fell victim to the scheme but became suspicious after receiving a letter. “I forwarded it to our ward councillor and the municipality for verification,” he said. “Both confirmed it was not an official notice from the City.”
Naicker then contacted the individual using the phone number on the letter. The man demanded a R1000 e-wallet payment to avoid disconnection of services. “We told him we only had cash and asked him to come in person,” Naicker explained.
Before the suspect arrived, Naicker’s family alerted Marshall Security. “When he arrived, he was in uniform and had tools, ready to disconnect the water,” Naicker said. “He opened the water meter, and that’s when we locked the gate. My son called security, and they apprehended him.”
Although the man initially insisted he was a municipal employee, he confessed to being a scammer after police arrived. Naicker believes the incident is part of a larger syndicate, with others collecting and cashing out the e-wallet payments.
Tyron Powell, a spokesperson for Marshall Security, confirmed that the suspect had no affiliation with the eThekwini Municipality. He urged residents to always verify the identity of municipal workers and avoid making payments through unofficial channels. “We also encourage anyone who may have been targeted by this scam to report it to SAPS immediately,” he added.
The suspect has appeared in court, and his case has been postponed until October 3.
