What are tender scams and how to avoid tender scams?

2020-01-09 00:00:00

Since the introduction of the CSD (central Supplier Database), tender scams are continuously increasing. CSD has been implemented to bridge the gap between suppliers and government however certain individuals have used this information to their advantage to scam people.

How tender scams work:

Generally you will receive an invitation to quote/tender for a specific job from what looks like a government email. The scammers use emails disguised as government emails but are not.

An example of a government entities email is info@durban.gov.za

The scammer will instead use info@durbangov.co.za.

The email even includes the government entities logo. In this instance let’s assume you are supplying computer/laptops/accessories. The scammer client generally obtains this information through CSD as they know you are looking for government work.

The client will inform you that you have won the tender and can supply the computers at a specified address or they will collect the goods from you. Everything looks legitimate. Government usually takes 30days to make payment. However once this time period has lapsed then you try to contact the client for your payment. The number they have supplied you does not work anymore.

They do not reply to emails. Then you get the government entities number and try contacting them and they tell you that you have not supplied them and that the person you are looking for does not work there. This is when you realise that it was a scam.

You will need to report this scam to the police and to the government entity they are masquerading as

 

How to avoid being scammed when tendering

Avoid these tender scams by verifying the client before supplying them.

Google the government entities telephone number or visit their website for contact details, call them and ask if the people you are dealing with work there,.if there is an open tender for what you supplying and if you were awarded the tender.

Always get an official purchase order from client

Always make sure that goods are supplied at the premises of the government entity.

Make sure delivery notes are signed.

Pay careful attention to the email and if it’s a government entity make sure it has .gov.za

It is very misleading and a lot of people get caught in this trap.

The scammers try to go in as detail as possible to make the transaction as legitimate as possible.

Use reliable cell phone applications like truecaller to verify if other people have reported the telephone number as a scam.