Direct answer
Never pay an electricity or municipal bill using banking details that arrived in a message. Eskom publishes its bank accounts on eskom.co.za for exactly this reason, stating that the purpose of the listed accounts is for customers to validate the bank account appearing on bill statements, quotations and remedial charge sheets as a fraud prevention measure before paying. Validate against that page, not against the SMS. Eskom’s national call centre is 08600 37566. Verified 18 August 2026.
How to check if a payment message is real
- Validate the bank account, not the message. Open eskom.co.za yourself and compare the account on your bill against the published list before you transfer anything.
- Check your balance through an official channel. Phone 08600 37566, use the USSD self-service channel, or ask Alfred, Eskom’s assistant.
- For a municipal bill, use your municipal account statement and the municipality’s own website. Municipal banking details do not change by SMS.
- Treat any change of banking details as fraudulent until confirmed by voice, on a number you sourced yourself. This wording is the single most common feature of the scam.
- Ignore the deadline. Disconnection threats within hours exist to stop you checking, and a genuine account does not turn on a single SMS.
A useful quirk of Eskom’s WhatsApp channel
Eskom’s WhatsApp assistant runs on the same number as its call centre. The instruction on Eskom’s own site is to save the share-call number 08600 37566 on your phone and message Alfred there about your electricity supply or account.
That makes verification unusually simple. If a WhatsApp number claiming to be Eskom is not 08600 37566, it is not Eskom. You do not need to judge the profile picture, the business badge or how convincing the language is.
Official places to verify
| Route | Detail | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Eskom national call centre | 08600 37566 | Accounts, supply, balances |
| Eskom on WhatsApp | 08600 37566, the same number | Alfred, the Eskom assistant |
| Eskom banking details | eskom.co.za | Validating the account on a bill before paying |
| Eskom whistle-blowing hotline | 0800 112 722 | Forensic and anti-corruption reports |
| Your municipality | Its own website and your statement | Municipal accounts and banking details |
| Your bank | The number on the back of your card | Stopping or disputing a payment |
| SAPS | 10111, or any station | The criminal case and case number |
When you call Eskom, its own guidance is to have your account number, meter number, pole number, address details and contact details ready. The pole number is the one most people do not think to find in advance, and it is what identifies a supply point on the ground.
What not to share
- One-time passwords or banking login details, to anyone claiming to process an urgent payment.
- Card numbers, PINs or CVV codes over the phone or by message.
- Remote access to your device so someone can help you pay or reconnect.
- Payments into a personal bank account. Eskom and municipalities bank in their own registered names, which is precisely what the published account list lets you check.
- Your prepaid meter number posted publicly when complaining about a fault.
How to report a fake payment message
- If you have already paid, phone your bank immediately on the number on your card. A recall only works while the money is still in the receiving account.
- Report it to Eskom on 08600 37566, or to the whistle-blowing hotline on 0800 112 722 where corruption is involved.
- Report a municipal impersonation to your municipality through the contact details on your statement.
- Open a SAPS case on 10111 or at a station and keep the case number for your bank dispute.
- Keep the message. Do not delete it, and do not reply to it.
If the bank does not resolve a disputed payment, the National Financial Ombud handles unresolved banking disputes once the bank’s own process is exhausted. Confirm jurisdiction before lodging. No route guarantees recovery.
Related pages
- Fake Electricity Disconnection Notice: the disconnection-threat version of this scam.
- Fake Municipal Account SMS: the municipal billing variant.
- Change Of Banking Details Scam: the same tactic aimed at invoices and suppliers.
- Fake Contact Numbers South Africa: how the numbers in these messages are planted.
- What Not To Share With Customer Care: the credentials no agent needs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check Eskom’s real banking details?
Open eskom.co.za by typing the address and find the banking details page under customer service. Eskom publishes the accounts specifically so that customers can validate the account shown on a bill, quotation or charge sheet before paying. Compare, then pay.
Is Eskom’s WhatsApp number different from its phone number?
No. Eskom’s guidance is to save the share-call number 08600 37566 and message Alfred on WhatsApp using that same number. Any other WhatsApp number claiming to be Eskom is not Eskom.
What information should I prepare?
Eskom asks for your account number, meter number, pole number, address details and contact details. For a scam report, add the message itself, the sending number, and proof of any payment with dates and amounts.
What should I do if I cannot get help?
Escalate in writing through Eskom’s complaint handling process, keeping your reference, and use the whistle-blowing hotline on 0800 112 722 where corruption is involved. For a lost payment, lodge a written bank dispute with your SAPS case number and escalate to the National Financial Ombud if unresolved.
Last verified 18 August 2026 against eskom.co.za, saps.gov.za and safps.org.za.