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## **Scam Alert – Fake RFQ from “Felicia Lingene” Using Department of Employment & Labour Name**
### **Introduction**
This report exposes a fraudulent Request for Quotation (RFQ) distributed under the name of the **Department of Employment & Labour** and allegedly issued by **Felicia Lingene**.
The email address used — **[felicia.lingene@labour-govbids.online](mailto:felicia.lingene@labour-govbids.online)** — is a significant red flag, as legitimate South African government departments use official **.gov.za** domains, not private or misleading lookalike domains like **.online**.
The purpose of this article is to document the scam details, identify warning signs, and provide steps to verify any similar communications before responding.
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### **Summary of the RFQ**
The fraudulent communication includes the following details:
* **Claimed Sender:** Felicia Lingene
* **Claimed Department:** Department of Employment & Labour
* **Email Address:** [felicia.lingene@labour-govbids.online](mailto:felicia.lingene@labour-govbids.online)
* **Telephone Number:** +27 12 516 0712
* **Physical Address Stated:** Labouria House, 215 Francis Baard Street, Private Bag X117, Pretoria, 0001
* **Message Content:** Invitation for “all interested service providers” to submit a quotation for unspecified products as per the attached RFQ document.
The message emphasizes urgency and notes that suppliers do not need to have expertise in the product category — instead, they can “find a supplier” and submit a price on their company letterhead.
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### **How the Scam Typically Works**
Scams of this nature exploit trust in government procurement processes. The steps usually follow this pattern:
1. **Mass Distribution of Fake RFQs**
The scammer sends the RFQ to a wide range of businesses, often using scraped or purchased email lists.
2. **Encouraging Outsourcing**
The email states that the recipient does not need to have the capability to supply the goods directly — they may “find a supplier” and mark up the price.
This lures more participants, including those outside the normal supplier base for the item.
3. **Issuing a Fake Purchase Order (PO)**
Once the scammer receives a quotation, they send a forged PO that appears to come from the Department of Employment & Labour.
4. **Diverting the Delivery**
The delivery address provided will not be the real departmental address — it will be a warehouse, residential property, or unmarked location controlled by the scammer.
5. **Disappearing After Goods Are Collected**
The goods are taken, resold, and the legitimate supplier is never paid.
In some variations, scammers request an “upfront supplier registration fee” before awarding the order.
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### **Key Red Flags in This Case**
* **Suspicious Domain Name**
Government email addresses end in **.gov.za**, not **.govbids.online**. The latter is privately registered and unrelated to any official government system.
* **Urgency Without Specifics**
The email body provides no product description in text form, pushing the recipient to open an attachment without verifying the sender.
* **Encouraging Middleman Participation**
Legitimate RFQs are directed at qualified suppliers in the relevant category. Asking recipients to “find a supplier” is highly unusual.
* **Mass Email Indicators**
The generic salutation (“Good Day Sir/Madam”) and lack of personalization suggest the same message was sent to many businesses.
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### **Risks to Suppliers**
1. **Loss of Goods** — Deliveries diverted to fraudulent locations mean the supplier is left without payment.
2. **Financial Fraud** — Upfront “registration” or “tender” fees paid to scammers are unrecoverable.
3. **Data Theft** — Company banking details, registration documents, and pricing can be used in further scams.
4. **Reputational Damage** — Associating with fraudulent transactions can harm credibility with genuine government buyers.
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### **How to Verify Any RFQ from the Department of Employment & Labour**
* **Check the National Tender Bulletin or eTender Portal**
Visit **[www.etenders.gov.za](http://www.etenders.gov.za)** to search for the RFQ number or project name.
If it is not listed there, treat it as suspicious.
* **Contact the Department Directly**
Use the official number listed on the **Department of Employment & Labour** website, not the number in the suspicious email.
* **Verify the Email Domain**
Only emails ending in **@labour.gov.za** are valid. Anything else, including **govbids.online**, is fraudulent.
* **Examine the Delivery Address**
Any request to deliver to a non-departmental location is a red flag.
* **Refuse to Pay Any “Tender Fees”**
Government tenders are always free to access and submit.
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### **Recommendations**
If you receive an RFQ matching the details above:
1. **Do Not Reply to the Sender** until verification is complete.
2. **Forward the Email to the Department’s Fraud Prevention Unit** and **SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit**.
3. **Warn Other Businesses** in your network to prevent additional victims.
4. **Retain All Correspondence** for use in potential investigations.
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### **Conclusion**
The RFQ sent from **[felicia.lingene@labour-govbids.online](mailto:felicia.lingene@labour-govbids.online)** is almost certainly part of a procurement scam. The use of a non-government email domain, vague request details, and encouragement to outsource the supply are all classic markers of this type of fraud.
Businesses should remain vigilant, verify all tenders through official channels, and refuse any engagement until legitimacy is confirmed.
By sharing these warnings, we can limit the reach of such scams and protect suppliers from financial loss.
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