CRIMINALS are taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic, sending unsuspecting individuals fraudulent company requests to supply sanitisers, protective personal equipment via social media.
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has received enquiries from defrauded persons, some of whom only approached the company after having parted with hard-earned cash.
According to TPT Acting Chief Executive Michelle Phillips: “Transnet and its operating divisions will only advertise available supply chain opportunities via the National Treasury on-line portal, the Transnet website and the respective Operating Division website. Nowhere else.”
The public is encouraged to practice caution, verify all opportunities with the referenced companies directly and report the crimes or any associated suspicions to the South African Police Services.
Would-be victims are to take note that TPT will not share cellphone numbers in any adverts.
There will never be any requests for upfront payment of money for any required service.
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It urged the public to compare advertised email addresses with those of the company using the official website, often there are very slight differences that may not be picked up at first glance.
Remember to maintain all details like cellphone numbers and names of the person(s) who made contact, receipts and proof of payment as well as date and venue of arranged meetings.
These go a long way in helping with the arrest of the criminals.
“It is during these hard and desperate times that criminals prey on ordinary people. If you are not a supplier or have not applied for any job, it should bother you when you receive private emails and social media requests with opportunities that seem too good to be true,” said Phillips.
She urged the public to report any fraudulent activity on Transnet’s toll free fraud hotline on 0800 003 056, email to transnet@tip-offs.com or fax to 0800 00 77 88.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
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