DPWI scam alert!
Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) would like to once again warn members of the public and service providers about a scam doing rounds using personal details of DPWI staff members to scam the public.
These fraudsters that have been lying low for some time, have just started again to target unsuspecting service providers around Johannesburg and Pretoria. They use DPWI letterhead and real names of officials working in the department to invite service providers to deliver goods at government offices or some other locations. These goods then disappear mysteriously in the hands of criminals, leaving victims in huge debts. They use DPWI information along with that of Provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in Gauteng to try and confuse their victims.
In their tricks of trying to defraud service providers, they miss important information that gives them away but for desperate and unsuspecting individuals, it is easy for them to fall prey to the scam. The DPWI will never send a request to an individual service provider or group of service providers without following the proper supply chain management (SCM) processes.
DPWI management and staff would like to distance itself from all these fraudulent activities and would like to encourage the public to be alert to this scam.
The scammers trick unsuspecting, prospective service providers by inviting them to tender with the Department using their names with a sole aim of cheating them of their hard-earned cash. Their target, is usually officials who are based at Supply Chain Management (SCM) by using their details and job title lure members of the public by inviting them to none existent tenders.
These scammers are causing a lot of stress to departmental staff who become exposed to strangers, who from time to time would come to the office reception to enquire about misleading information. The danger posed to the staff is that many people are convinced that the information is genuine, until it is pointed out to them that it is not.
Members of the public and those who are doing business with DPWI are cautioned to be extra vigilant around this time of the lockdown whereby unscrupulous people use any available opportunity to scam them.
There is no official of DPWI who will send out an invitation to individuals to come and tender for projects within the Department. If anyone receives such an invitation purporting to be from any staff member, please verify with DPWI by calling the following officials below.
Mr. Matomo Mabotja
Telephone: 012 406 1328
Email: Matomo.mabotja@dpw.gov.za
Mr. Lesole Matsotso
Telephone: 012 406 1439
Email: Lesole.matsotso@dpw.gov.za
Anti-corruption Unit Telephone: 012 406 1328
Enquiries:
Mr. Thamsanqa Mchunu
Spokesperson: Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
Mobile: 079 519 6997
Tel: 012 406 1841
