Sep 2016 - 2nd edition

High scam alert to suppliers and service providers of Dept of Health

It has come to the attention of the National Department of Health (NDoH) that there are certain unscrupulous companies and individuals disguised as representatives of the Department who are defrauding unsuspecting businesses.

The Department is inundated with calls on a daily basis from people who have been defrauded by millions of rand. People have lost their businesses, pensions and investments. The scam involves the fraudsters using departmental letterheads to send out fake tenders to companies and requests to supply equipment and goods.

Please note that, on these letters, the contact person’s name and telephone number is not the same as that of the NDoH in Pretoria. When searching the address on the Internet of the company that has sent the fake tender document, it is found that it does not exist. The banking details are in a private name and not a company name. Government will never ask you to deposit any funds for any business transaction.

The NDoH has alerted the relevant law enforcement authorities to investigate this scam, to protect legitimate businesses and well as the name of the Department. Should you suspect that you are a victim of a scam, you must urgently contact the police and inform the National Department of Health. Examples of e-mails these fraudsters use are:tenders@doh.za.orgdoh@treasury-gov.org.zaghd@gautenghealth-gov.org.zahealth@mphumalang-gov.org.zaNDOH@nationalhealth gov.org.zatebogomambolo@heaths-gov.org.zaThatomolope@dh.gov.co.za

Their phone numbers are:+27 (0)12 743-5358+27 (0)12 743-6854+27 (0)12 755-3923 When the numbers above are called, a person picks up and says: “Department of Health, how can we help you?”. Alternatively, the call is diverted to a mobile number voicemail (063 354 8800).

Government e-mails DO NOT have “org” in their addresses. All these fraudsters also use the same or very similar telephone numbers. Even though such numbers, with the “012” area code, seem to be landlines, they are in fact not fixed to any property. The National Department of Health will never send you an e-mail asking you to supply equipment and goods without a purchase/order number. The National Department of Health does not procure goods for another level of government. It will never ask you to deposit money into a private account. The Department will not be liable for actions that result in companies or individuals being victims of such scams.

Should you suspect that you are a victim of this scam, please report the matter to the SAPSOR verify the legitimacy of the request with National Department Health on (012) 395-9591or majap@health.gov.za

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