Tender Frauds - Hardware Industry

[SCW]

Almost weekly I receive fraudulent quotation and tender requests from various "government departments".

I have decided to list them here every time I receive them, with any relevant information, addresses and numbers that relate, in the hopes that I might save some honest traders their hard earned cash.

Although not difficult to spot, over eager suppliers could get caught out.

The general pattern is as follows -

• First you receive a phone call requesting confirmation of your contact details - often as listed on the CSD.
• This can be followed up with a call from the "department" to notify you that you will be mailed a request to quote/tender.
• You receive an email, that at a glance looks legit, from the "department". Always hover your mouse over the senders address to see the actual address - which often is similar to the real contact for the genuine department.
• The email contains a .pdf RFQ for the required item and all the normal tender documents.
• The item requested will often have a very specific part or model number - the purpose of this is to lead you to a fake supplier's site when Googling, often set up a couple of days or weeks earlier.
• Google results will often show only this fake site, or more recently several free business listing or classified sites that ultimately lead to the same fake site. In my experience 99% of these fake sites and listed address and contact numbers are in the Cape - maybe deliberate as I am based in Limpopo.
• A call to the supplier confirms they have stock, you receive a quotation.
• You then receive a call or email from the "department" saying the order is urgent. This is followed by an "official" order.
• The "supplier" confirms they can deliver direct to the department and requests a 50% deposit, if paid this will be the last you hear of them.

Simple giveaways are

• The "almost" government email addresses (something like supplychain@dohs-gov.co.za or tenders@transnet-headoffice.co.za). A good check is to put domain name (everything behind the @ sign) into a "who is" website like http://co.za/whois.shtml to see who actually registered the site.
• Very specific part and model numbers on the requested items.
• Generic and often flawed supplier websites.
• Poorly made/copied "official orders".

Some of these scams involve enough money to break a small business - I hope listing them here will be of help.