🚨 Fake Tender Alert: Scam Email Impersonating sibongile.mlangeni@supplychainslabour.online and the Department of Employment and Labour

Introduction

A new fraudulent tender scam has emerged, targeting businesses across South Africa with deceptive emails that appear to come from the Department of Employment and Labour. The most recent version is sent from the suspicious email address sibongile.mlangeni@supplychainslabour.online. Although it may appear professional and legitimate at first glance, this is a scam designed to defraud unsuspecting companies.

In this alert, we will dissect the contents of the scam email, identify the red flags, explain how the scam typically unfolds, and provide guidance on how to verify legitimate government tenders. With tender-related fraud on the rise, it’s more important than ever for businesses—especially those registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD)—to be informed and cautious.

The Fake Email at a Glance

The email claims to originate from the Department of Employment and Labour and reads as follows:

Subject: Opportunity to Submit

From: sibongile.mlangeni@supplychainslabour.online

Body:
Dear Service provider,

On behalf of the Department of Employment and Labour, tender submissions are invited from registered & eligible contractors/firms having sufficient credentials and financial capability for execution of the work.

Currently looking for companies that can assist with pricing.

NB: This is an automated email; it may reach you when it is passed office hours due to our system delay.

Goods to be delivered at:
Laboria House, 215 Francis Baard Street, Private Bag X 117, Pretoria, 0001

Closing Date is within 3 working days.

Kind Regards,
Procurement Department
Department of Employment & Labour
Laboria House, 215 Francis Baard Street, Private Bag X 117,
Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0001.

At first glance, the email looks like a typical Request for Quotation (RFQ) or tender invitation. It uses formal language, includes the correct physical address for the Department of Employment and Labour, and attempts to mimic the structure of an official government communication.

However, the sender's email domain—@supplychainslabour.online—is not an official government domain and is the biggest red flag in this scam.

Why This is a Scam

🚩 1. Suspicious Email Domain

Legitimate government departments in South Africa use email addresses ending in .gov.za. In this case, the email is sent from sibongile.mlangeni@supplychainslabour.online, which is not an official domain. Scammers often create fake domains that appear professional to fool recipients. The .online top-level domain is frequently used by fraudsters because it is cheap and unregulated.

🚩 2. Generic Language and Missing Details

The email contains vague language like “currently looking for companies that can assist with pricing,” without specifying the goods or services being procured. Legitimate tenders include:

• Tender reference numbers

• Full specifications

• Closing dates and times

• Bid document download links or collection information
  This message provides none of those—only a vague deadline.

🚩 3. Fake Sense of Urgency

Stating that the closing date is “within 3 working days” without a specific deadline is a common scam tactic. It creates pressure to act quickly before recipients have time to verify the legitimacy of the request.

🚩 4. Impersonation of Known Government Addresses

The email uses the actual physical address of the Department of Employment and Labour’s headquarters, which is publicly available online. This is a strategy scammers use to appear credible—but don’t be fooled. The email still originates from a non-government domain and is not connected to the department.

🚩 5. Automated Email Excuse

The line “this is an automated email; it may reach you when it is passed office hours due to our system delay” is inserted to avoid scrutiny and discourage recipients from verifying the sender. This is another psychological trick designed to legitimize their irregular contact methods.

How This Scam Typically Works

1. Initial Contact via Email
   You receive a suspicious email that looks like an official tender or quotation request.

2. You Respond with Interest
   If you express interest or send a quote, the scammer replies asking you to contact their “recommended supplier” or requests specific goods that are difficult to source.

3. They Introduce a Fake Supplier
   The scammer will then refer you to a supplier (controlled by them) who provides a quote for the required goods—usually with a request for upfront payment

4. 1. You Place an Order and Pay
      Once payment is made to the fake supplier, the scammers disappear. No goods are delivered, and all communication ceases.

   ---

   Real vs. Fake: How to Spot a Legitimate Government Tender

   Real Government TenderScam Tender

   Issued via official portals like www.etenders.gov.za	Sent via unsolicited email
   Uses @labour.gov.za domain	Uses @supplychainslabour.online or similar
   Has a tender number and full specs	Vague request, no tender number
   Provides detailed timelines and contact procedures	Says “closing in 3 days” with no time
   Requires physical submission or eTender portal upload	Asks for email submission to suspicious addresses
   Can be verified by calling the department directly	Cannot be verified; staff deny knowledge if contacted

   ---

   How to Protect Yourself

   If you receive an email like this:

   ✅ Don’t respond immediately

   Take a moment to analyze the sender’s email address and look for inconsistencies in language and formatting.

   ✅ Verify the tender

   Search for the tender number or opportunity on the eTenders Portal:
   👉 https://www.etenders.gov.za

   ✅ Check the sender's domain

   If the email does not end in .gov.za, be very cautious. Most government departments do not outsource their tender processes to third-party domains.

   ✅ Contact the Department directly

   Call the Department of Employment and Labour using numbers found on their official website (https://www.labour.gov.za). Ask for the SCM (Supply Chain Management) office to confirm the tender.

   ✅ Report the scam

   Forward any suspicious emails to:

• National Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701

• SAPS Cybercrime Division

• Report to the CSD helpdesk if you're registered: csd@treasury.gov.za

Conclusion

Scams like the one impersonating sibongile.mlangeni@supplychainslabour.online are becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot. They exploit your trust in government institutions and your eagerness to secure contracts. These scams can cost businesses thousands of rands, not to mention reputational damage.

If something feels off—trust your instincts and verify before you act. Always cross-check tenders through official channels, and never submit documents or make payments to unverified parties.

Remember: Government tenders in South Africa are never sent from free domains or privately registered ones like .online. If it’s not from a .gov.za address and not listed on an official portal—it's a scam.

Summary Checklist

✅ Email from a .gov.za address
✅ Published on etenders.gov.za
✅ Contains official tender number and full specs
✅ No urgency tactics or vague language
✅ Confirmed via direct contact with the department
✅ No payments to third-party suppliers before contract award