Legal practitioners have been warned not to fall prey to a tender scam by a person masquerading as a City of Tshwane official soliciting money from them to assist with submission of their outstanding bid documents.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the warning was for legal service providers who have submitted bids to be listed in the procurement of the Panel of Attorneys of the City.
He cautioned the legal firms about fraudulent activities committed by a scammer impersonating an official within the municipality.
Mashigo said: “The scammer calls bidders pretending to be a legal officer from the City, informing them that certain documents are missing from their bid documents.
“The scammer carries on by soliciting money in order to assist them in submitting the outstanding bid documents even beyond the closing date.”
The City was dismayed after discovering the tender scam, he said, adding that it was disheartening that legal practitioners stood to be defrauded in that fashion.
“Bidders are requested to ignore such calls as this is a scam, and most importantly, the tender is closed,” he said.
He urged the public and legal practitioners to be vigilant when dealing with such matters.
“It is appalling how these scammers prey on unsuspecting business communities by posturing. In addition, those making such false calls will be arrested, charged and prosecuted as their actions border on criminality,” he said.
The public was advised to contact the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department on 012 358 7095/6 if they know of these scammers as such roguery is considered not to be in accordance with the norms and procedures of the City’s processes.
Pretoria News