Johannesburg - Eskom warned members of the public on Tuesday about a new tender scam. It involves fraudulent orders and invitations to tender for Eskom contracts issued to suppliers on behalf of Eskom.
According to Eskom, the fraudsters pretend to be Eskom supply chain management. As part of the phishing scam, they claim that Eskom is inviting bids for the possible supply of certain products.
The fraudsters use an address which mentions the Kusile Power Station and they provide a phone and fax number (Tel: +27 (0) 130 042 338, Fax: +27 (0)130 042 339) and the following RFQ Ref No: MPPSC/00/007. Suppliers are invited to submit a tender for the delivery and supply of commercial and industrial meters.
In terms of the scam, the bidders are supposed to submit their quotations to a false email address (kusile@eskomservice.co.za).
“Once the would-be supplier has tendered for the contract, they are then contacted via telephone or email by people who claim to be Eskom officials and are invited to submit quotations," explained Eskom’s divisional executive for security Tebogo Rakau.
“The fraudsters then call these suppliers to inform them that their companies have been appointed to deliver goods and they have to sign and fax the appointment letter back to them as soon as possible because the goods are needed urgently. Furthermore, the fraudsters encourage the suppliers to use certain manufacturers as they are supposedly the only manufacturers. These fictitious manufacturers are part of the scam.”
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Victims are then told to pay these manufacturers who then disappear with the money.
Eskom would also like to remind suppliers to be vigilant and not to deliver any goods or transfer any payments to any supplier or manufacturer without confirming the authenticity of the orders with Eskom. Suppliers are also encouraged to report such matters to the SA Police Service in cases where they have been defrauded.
To report incidents of fraud, corruption and irregularities involving Eskom, call Eskom’s toll free crime line on 0800 112 722 or email investigate@eskom.co.za.
Procurement opportunities available from Eskom are advertised on its own website www.eskom.co.za/Tenders or on the National Treasury e-tender portal. Requests for quotation are signed and have an Eskom contact person’s landline and email address, with eskom.co.za credentials.
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