12 December 2007
With the assistance of the Scorpions six people have been arrested and
appeared in court yesterday, 11 December 2007, following the uncovering of a
syndicate which has been defrauding suppliers. The syndicate seems to be
operating in various areas around the country and makes use of fraudulently
generated supply orders using the name of the Department of Agriculture.
The modus operandi of the syndicate is normally as follows:
* Suppliers are contacted for quotations for the delivery of tangible items
such as toner cartridges, computers, laptops etc.
* Suppliers are then contacted and issued with a fraudulent order for the
delivery of the above-mentioned items.
* The syndicate will contact regional offices of the department with the
pretension that they are officials at Head Quarters in Pretoria requesting
officials in the regional offices to accept the goods that were fraudulently
ordered from suppliers, with the understanding that the goods will be
distributed in the relevant province.
* The syndicate will then normally arrange that a courier service pick up the
goods whilst the supplier is under the impression that the goods have been
delivered at the offices of the department.
Another scheme that is currently being used by the fraudsters is as
follows:
* Fraudulent cheques are paid into the accounts of suppliers.
* Suppliers are then informed by means of a fraudulent letterhead of the
department that the payment made into the bank account was meant for another
supplier or institution and is requested to electronically transfer the amount
back into their bank account.
The Scorpions are continuing with their investigations and more arrests are
expected.
For further information contact:
Steve Galane
Director of Communications
Department of Agriculture
Tel: 012 319 7312
Fax: 012 319 7858
Cell: 083 635 7346
E-mail: DAIS@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
12 December 2007
