The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department has issued a warning about scammers targeting entrepreneurs with fake appointment letters for departmental contracts.
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The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport Department has issued a warning to businesses after scammers targeted unsuspecting entrepreneurs with fraudulent letters of appointment for departmental contracts.
The scam involves fraudulent documents informing business owners that they have been appointed as service providers for a supposed government project. One such letter, which falsely announced the awarding of a contract for the replacement of AMCO pipes with concrete culverts on Main P305 3+040 in the Greytown area, requested the recipient to contact a certain Nokwanda Phenyane on a listed landline number to accept the offer.
The fraudulent letter appears to bear the signature of the department’s head, Siboniso Mbhele, and includes an official-looking department letterhead, further adding to its credibility.
On Monday, the KZN Transport Department cautioned the public against falling prey to these scams, saying that criminals were using the name of the department’s head to solicit bribes and kickbacks.
“Criminals are targeting unsuspecting entrepreneurs, soliciting bribes and kickbacks using the name of the head of the Department of Transport, Siboniso Mbhele. Report them to the police,” the department urged in its statement.
Authorities are urging businesses and individuals to verify any government-related correspondence directly with the department before engaging in any financial transactions or agreements. Any suspicious activity should be reported to law enforcement immediately.