MEDIA RELEASE

Statement by:

Rick Crouch
Rick Crouch & Associates
Private Investigators & Digital Forensics

09 May 2016 

Release: Immediate

CRIME ALERT - TENDER SCAM TARGETING SMALL BUSINESS

A new scam targeting businesses is becoming more prevalent.

The Modus Operandi is that the scammer will approach a small business that is registered on the Kwazulu-Natal Government database for vendors.

They will request a non-existent item, such as a special light bulb that does not exist. They will then set up a website that shows them as the sole supplier or manufacturer of this non-existent item, so when the victim conducts a Google search for the item they only find this one website.

The victim then purchases hundreds of thousands of Rand worth of this non-existent product from the non-existent company in order to comply with the non-existent tender. Once the EFT payment has been made the website is taken down and the fraudsters disappear.

"If you receive such a solicitation please call the government department concerned and verify that the tender is valid. If you have been a victim of this scam or have been received a similar tender offer please contact us as we are working on three such cases at this time and are attempting to link all these cases. You can contact us by email at info@rickcrouch.co.za or by phone at 031 764-1321" said Hillcrest Private Investigator Rick Crouch.

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Media Contact:

Rick Crouch
Rick Crouch & Associates
Private Investigators & Digital Forensics
Mobile: 076.449.5263 | Web: www.rickcrouch.co.za