⚠️ Scam Alert: Fake RFQ from Mary.Moela@dcs.gov.za – “200 x DSP-790 Solar Street Lights”

Overview

Businesses across South Africa are once again being targeted by a sophisticated tender scam — this time using the identity Mary Moela from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). The email references an “URGENT RFQ” for 200 x DSP-790 Solar Street Lights, and claims to come from:

Mary.Moela@dcs.gov.za
Supply Chain Management
Drakenstein Management Area
Tel: 021 516 0539

This communication appears official and urgent, and may even include forged RFQ documents or DCS letterheads. But it is not legitimate — it’s part of a fraudulent procurement scam aimed at deceiving suppliers into paying for non-existent products or services.

📧 Sample Scam Email

Subject: URGENT RFQ: 200 x DSP-790 Solar Street Lights

Good day,

We urgently require the supply of the following item:
DSP-790 Solar Street Lights (Quantity: 200)

Please review the attached quotation request and respond with pricing, delivery timeline, and documentation as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Mary Moela
Supply Chain Management
Drakenstein Management Area
Tel: 021 516 0539
Email: Mary.Moela@dcs.gov.za

This email may include fake RFQ documents, DCS branding, or even forged signatures — all designed to build trust and trick you into making payment to a third-party supplier that doesn’t exist.

🚨 Red Flags in This Scam

Despite the formal tone and government domain, several warning signs indicate this is a scam:

1. Spoofed Government Email Address

Scammers can spoof or impersonate @dcs.gov.za email addresses to make the communication appear authentic. Always cross-check names with the official DCS directory. No known employee named Mary Moela exists at the Drakenstein Management Area.

2. Urgent and Unusual Product Request

Scammers frequently use niche or technical products like “DSP-790 Solar Street Lights” — items most suppliers don’t keep in stock, forcing them to look for external quotes. These products are not standard government procurement items.

3. Unlisted Tender

No such RFQ or tender appears on the official National Treasury eTenders Portal (https://www.etenders.gov.za), which is where all real government procurement is published.

4. Unverifiable Contact Details

The phone number 021 516 0539 is not associated with any official DCS office. A reverse lookup yields no match — suggesting it’s a fake or untraceable VoIP number.

🕵️ How the Scam Works

This scam is part of a widespread government RFQ fraud scheme that preys on unsuspecting businesses. Here’s how it typically unfolds:

Step 1: You Receive a Fake RFQ Email

The message looks official, sent from what appears to be a real government email, requesting a quotation for a specific, obscure product.

Step 2: You’re Referred to a “Preferred Supplier”

When you say you don’t have the product in stock, the scammer helpfully refers you to a “preferred supplier” or manufacturer (a fake company controlled by them).

Step 3: You Get a High Quote and Make Payment

You request a quote from this “supplier,” receive pricing, and pay in advance. You then send your final quote back to DCS — expecting a quick turnaround.

Step 4: The Scammer Disappears

Once your payment is made, the so-called supplier vanishes, and no order is fulfilled. The DCS has no knowledge of the transaction — and you’ve lost your money.

🧠 Common Patterns of the Scam

• Branding: Forged logos and official-looking RFQs

• Fake Tender Numbers: Not listed on eTenders.gov.za

• Obscure Model Numbers: Like "DSP-790", designed to be untraceable

• Impersonated Names: “Mary Moela”, “Sam Juries”, “Simakuhle Yoliswa”

• Urgency: Pushes you to act quickly before verifying the tender

✅ How to Protect Your Business

Here are critical actions to protect your company from falling victim to this type of fraud:

1. Always Verify Tender Validity

Check tender numbers, reference numbers, and project details on:
🔗 https://www.etenders.gov.za

If it’s not published there, it’s not real.

2. Confirm Employee Identity

Call the official DCS switchboard or visit their website:
🔗 https://www.dcs.gov.za
Never trust contact information from a suspicious email alone.

3. Be Wary of Technical or Unusual Items

Items like “DSP-790 Solar Street Lights” are classic scam bait — difficult to verify and often only “available” from a scammer-controlled supplier.

4. Avoid Paying New Suppliers Without Due Diligence

If you’re asked to pay upfront, especially to a supplier you’ve never worked with before — stop immediately and verify the supplier’s business, registration, and track record.

5. Look for Grammar, Formatting, and Signature Errors

Many scam RFQs contain subtle spelling mistakes, vague language, and poor formatting — small but important signs of fraud.

📍 Real vs Fake Tender: Quick Comparison

🛑 What To Do If You've Been Targeted

1. Do Not Engage

Avoid replying, clicking links, or opening attachments.

2. Report the Scam

Send the full email (including headers and attachments) to:

• National Treasury Tender Fraud: tenderfraud@treasury.gov.za

• DCS Complaints: complaints@dcs.gov.za

• SAPS Cybercrime Division (or your local police station)

3. Notify Your Team

Alert your procurement, sales, and finance departments. These scammers often target multiple people at the same company.

📝 Final Thoughts

The “Mary.Moela@dcs.gov.za” tender for 200 DSP-790 Solar Street Lights is a scam.

Although it mimics official communication and uses a government-like email, it’s part of a long-running fake tender operation designed to steal from unsuspecting suppliers.

Always take a few minutes to verify a tender before quoting or ordering stock. That small pause could save your business thousands of rand and protect you from fraud.