Kwadlangezwa businessman warns about tender scam

KWADLANGEZWA entrepreneur Malibongwe Ntshaka has issued a warning to all business people doing business with government to be more careful when receiving a tender by email or a telephonic tender proposal.

Ntshaka was almost scammed of more than R200 000 in what appears to be a well-planned scam last week.

‘I received a call last Monday from a lady who called herself Angela Kunene, asking me if I was interested in supplying them with 20 solar light bulbs.

“She said she was working for the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in Pretoria.

‘She then emailed me a quotation form and when I searched the supplier of this product, I discovered there is only one supplier located in Cape Town,’ said Matshaka.

Matshaka later became suspicious after scrutinising the email address and telephone number of the tender documents.

‘These numbers were not the same as the department’s. Neither were the email address and domain name.

‘It was also strange that companies in Pretoria were not approached, but someone like me in KZN.

‘I phoned the department to make inquiries and was shocked when they told me there was no such tender.’

He believes the con artist obtained his number from the government’s central supply database and urged other businessmen to be vigilant.

‘It’s very important to verifying all the information with a relevant department to see if the tender is legitimate or not,’ he said.

The ZO is in possession of the tender documents and it is seen that the telephone number and the email address is not the same as the one of the Departments website.

When the ZO tried to seek clarity about the tender, Kunene said the tenders are done in different offices and she was too busy to talk, but promised to phone back.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer