The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has noted with concern the re-emergence of fraudulent order scams targeting unsuspecting service providers. This comes after a number of service providers came to the DPWI offices while others called, looking for officials whose names were fraudulently used in the bogus quotations for tenders.
This is an old scam where fraudulent orders are supplied by people who are unknown and have no link to the department, using names of current and former DPWI employees. The fraudsters also provide counterfeit Request for Quote (RFQ) documents with the Department’s logo and address which may appear to be legit DPWI RQF documents.
These criminals call unsuspecting service providers and email forged DPWI order documents and request the provision of expensive electronic equipment, machinery and even vehicles. The unsuspecting service providers are then told to deliver the goods at locations usually close to DPWI offices and sites but never inside the official building/site. The fraudsters would then request for the invoice to be electronically sent to a bogus email address before vanishing without paying for the goods, leaving victims with huge debts.
The use of DPWI officials’ names in the scam, remains a big concern for the department because it poses serious security and reputational threats to both the employees and the department.
DPWI urges the public to always verify any correspondence they receive in the name of the department, requesting for the provision of services.
Many businesses have lost millions at the hands of unscrupulous criminals masquerading as DPWI employees. The department has been working with the SAPS to report such cases as soon as we discover them. We also encourage any Service provider who has been scammed to do the same.
In order to verify the legitimacy of the orders received, the public is encouraged to call the following officials on ONLY these contact details:
Mr Lesole Matsotso
Tell: 012 406 1439
E-mail: lesole.matsotso@dpw.gov.za
Mr Xolani Makhonco
Tell: 012 406 1760
E-mail: Xolani.makhonco@dpw.gov.za
