Public Works launches awareness campaign
Department of Public Works launches awareness campaign.
A public awareness campaign about a wave of scams waged by fraudsters who use fake documents from the Department of Public Works is being launched.
According to public works’s director-general, Mziwonke Dlabantu, these fraudsters purchase expensive goods from unsuspecting suppliers using fake documents from the public works department and then disappear without paying.
“To date, more than 20 companies have fallen prey to the scams and lost more than R26-million worth of goods,” he said.
A computer company that delivered R18-million worth of laptops to a fictitious DPW address in Mpumalanga suffered the biggest loss to date.
Dlabantu says a fraudulent campaign is being committed by a syndicate of sophisticated fraudsters who place these orders.
The fraudsters apparently bear names of former and current employees of the department. They also have letterheads with different contact details.
“But not all businesses have fallen victim to the scam. More than 40 businesses avoided more than R22-million worth of losses after they approached the DPW offices to verify the authenticity of the orders.”
The department is working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in order to catch all those who are guilty of this crime.
“We need to caution the suppliers to be extra vigilant so that the scammers do not swindle them of their heard-earned money.”
Suppliers are urged to be extra vigilant.
“When in doubt, they should verify a;; relevant details with the department on 0800 782 542 or 0800 701701.”
The department confirmed that more than 10 companies in Pretoria have become victims of these scams and asked not to be named because of for various reasons, including the element of shame.
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