Mzimvubu Local Municipality (ULM) has warned members of the public against scammers and ongoing cyber-crimes, this followed complaints received by the municipality from residents who had been scammed by people pretending to be municipal officials.
According to the senior manager, Communications and Special Programme’s Unit (SPU), Nokhanyo Zembe, the scam has allegedly invited businesses to pay a large amount of money to a certain “senior manager” for tenders and vacancies that were recently advertised by the municipality.
“The municipality warns its residents of these criminals who continue to scam people of their money, under pretence of being municipal employees. The matter is receiving urgent attention from the municipality and from law enforcement agencies,” said Zembe.
She added that this municipality does not use brokers for tender applications but are hand-delivered to the municipality. According to her, all ULM tenders and vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, social media pages, municipal billboards, municipal notice boards and the official website (www.umzimvubu.gov.za).
“Members of the public are reminded that they should know it’s a scam when they are requested to call the sender on the mobile phones, because the municipality does not request to be called back by bidders, when potential victims are requested to make a payment fee in advance, because the municipality does not request bidders to pay monies to individuals in any way whatsoever in exchange for tender placement, and when potential victims are required to pay monies to individuals for advertised vacancies.”
She said that the public is urged to alert law enforcement agencies about any suspicious activities related to ULM Tenders. Residents are further advised to contact the National Anti-Corruption Hotline-0800 701 701.
