Jan.Maketa@dcs.gov.za

🚨 Tender Scam Warning: “BID-(440) BAXTER M500 BLANKENTS” from Jan Maketa at DCS

South African companies are once again being targeted with fraudulent procurement emails impersonating government departments. One of the latest scams involves a fake tender opportunity titled “BID-(440) BAXTER M500 BLANKENTS”, allegedly from Jan Maketa at the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), using the email address Jan.Maketa@dcs.gov.za.

📧 Scam Email Summary

Subject Line: BID-(440) BAXTER M500 BLANKENTS

Sender Name: Jan Maketa

Email Address: Jan.Maketa@dcs.gov.za

Department Referenced: Department of Correctional Services

Document Requested: Quotation + company documents

🔍 Red Flags That Indicate a Scam

1. Unusual Tender Name

The phrase “BAXTER M500 BLANKENTS” is both oddly formatted and contains a spelling error ("blankents" instead of "blankets"). Government tenders are published with precision and correct spelling.

2. No Official Listing

The tender BID-(440) is not listed on:

National Treasury eTender Portal

Department of Correctional Services official website

✅ All genuine tenders are published on these platforms. If it's not listed, it’s not legitimate.

3. Unverified Contact

Even though the email appears to be from a government address, this could be:

A spoofed email (faked “From” field)

A compromised internal account

A fake domain that looks like a government address

Always verify names and emails directly through official DCS communication lines.

📌 What These Scammers Are After

These fake tenders often request:

• Company registration certificates

• B-BBEE affidavits or certificates

• Bank confirmation letters

• Letterhead quotations

The goal is to:

• Harvest your sensitive documents

• Create a duplicate company identity

• Trick you into buying fake stock from a “preferred supplier”

In some cases, they even fabricate invoices and demand upfront payments.

✅ How to Verify the Tender’s Authenticity

Before responding:

✔️ 1. Search the Tender Number on eTender Portal

Visit https://etenders.treasury.gov.za and enter the bid number (e.g. BID-(440)). If it’s not there, it’s fake.

✔️ 2. Contact DCS Directly

Use verified contact information on the DCS website to call or email the Supply Chain Management unit. Don’t use the numbers or emails in the suspicious message.

✔️ 3. Do a Domain and Header Check

Advanced users can analyze the full email headers to see if it was really sent from the @dcs.gov.za mail servers. Tools like MxToolbox can help.

🚫 What NOT to Do

• Don’t reply to the email.

• Don’t download attachments or click any links.

• Don’t submit documents until you've verified the bid independently.

📈 Keywords and Tags for Awareness

SEO Keywords:

• Baxter M500 Blankets tender scam

• Fake bid Department of Correctional Services

• Jan Maketa tender fraud

• BID-(440) DCS quotation email

• South Africa procurement scams

Tags:

• Fake tenders

• DCS scam email

• Government procurement fraud

• Business identity theft

• RFQ email scam

📷 Image Suggestion

Would you like a visual graphic that includes:

• A fake vs real tender comparison

• Example of a spoofed email

• Red flags checklist

Let me know and I can create or source one for you.

🧾 Conclusion

The email referencing BID-(440) BAXTER M500 BLANKENTS from Jan Maketa is highly likely to be a fraudulent attempt to gather business documentation or lure you into a fake supplier transaction. As always, verify before you respond and report anything suspicious to:

• report@phishing.gov.za

• The Department of Correctional Services via their official site

• Cybersecurity Hub SA

🛡️ Stay alert. Fraudsters are getting smarter, but together we can stay one step ahead.