The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements strongly urges residents to be aware of online housing scams that request you to pay for government housing assistance. The Department recently learnt of a Facebook account, \u201cRDP House Application 2022\/2023\u201d, where fraudsters pose as officials facilitating approvals for houses, keys and title deeds. A Cape Town resident was the most recent victim that discovered she was scammed after arriving at the Department\u2019s office. In anticipating the receipt of a housing opportunity, she paid over R2,000 into a bank account to process her \u201capproval letter\u201d for a house in one of the Department\u2019s projects in Mitchell\u2019s Plain. This particular Facebook account is but one of many online housing scams preying on vulnerable residents. Residents should be aware that no payment is required to be placed on the housing demand database (ie. waiting list), to apply for a housing subsidy, or any related government housing service.
\nFraudulent scams have increasingly been reported and appear on different platforms, particularly on social media, requesting citizens to either: pay a deposit or holding fee for a government house; to pay to be approved for a government housing opportunity; or to pay for the processing of an application for example.
\n\u201cIn many instances, vulnerable residents 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\u201d, commented Ms Kahmiela August, Acting Head of Department.
\n\u201cThe latest victim, that the Department is aware of, was scammed of over R2,000 by a certain \u2018Mr Mashilo\u2019 she met on a Facebook account. \u2018Mr Mashilo\u2019 presented himself as a Department of Human Settlements\u2019 official and provided various fraudulent paperwork as proof that the resident will be assisted with a house. Residents should be aware that no government official should ask you to pay any amount of cash for government housing services,\u201d added Ms August.
\nTo be considered for a government housing opportunity, citizens need to be registered on the housing database at their local municipality. To qualify for a government subsidised house, residents need to:
\n\u2022\tBe a South African citizen or have a permanent residency permit.
\n\u2022\tBe 18 years or older.
\n\u2022\tBe married or living with a partner.
\n\u2022\tBe single or divorced and have proven financial dependents permanently living with them.
\n\u2022\tEarn a household income of R3 500 or less, before deductions.
\n\u2022\tNot be current or previous property owners.
\n\u2022\tNot have received a housing subsidy from the government before.<\/p>\n
The Department also has various subsidies available to assist residents earning between R3,500 and R22,000 gross monthly household income. Enquiries can be made at any municipal housing office.
\nThe Department urges residents to be alert to requests for money involving government housing and know that:
\n\u2022\tNo exchange of money is needed to get approval for a government subsidised house.
\n\u2022\tYou do not have to pay to be on the housing database.<\/p>\n
Residents are advised to contact the Department, or any municipal housing office, to verify and check a housing social media post or advertisement\u2019s legitimacy. To report any fraudulent scams, residents must contact their nearest SAPS office for assistance.<\/p>\n
Source: Government of South Africa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"