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⚠️ SCAM ALERT: FAKE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RFQs SENT BY "Zikhona Sodika"
Scammers are once again impersonating government departments — this time, the Department of Social Development (DSD) — to trick South African businesses into responding to fraudulent Requests for Quotation (RFQs). The scam email features the name Zikhona Sodika and uses a fake domain: e-dsdtenders.online.
🚨 DETAILS OF THE SCAM
| Name used | Zikhona Sodika |
| Email address | zikhona.sodika@e-dsdtenders.online |
| Phone number | +27 (012) 516 0898 |
| Fake delivery address | HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria (commonly used in real DSD tenders to appear legitimate) |
🧨 HOW THE SCAM WORKS
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You receive an email from a fake procurement officer requesting a quote on an RFQ attachment.
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The RFQ allows “outsourcing”, encouraging you to find a third-party supplier yourself — usually one the scammers later “recommend.”
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You pay the third-party supplier, believing it’s for an official DSD tender.
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The supplier vanishes, and your payment is lost.
⚠️ RED FLAGS
| 🔗 Fake domain | e-dsdtenders.online is not an official government domain. All DSD communication should come from @dsd.gov.za. |
| 🔄 "Open request" with outsourcing clause | No legitimate government RFQ allows you to simply find a vendor and mark up prices. |
| 🕒 3-day deadline | Urgency is used to push businesses into acting without verifying. |
| 🧑 No DSD directory match | No official contact named Zikhona Sodika exists in the government directory. |
✅ HOW TO STAY SAFE
📌 Always verify tenders via the National Treasury eTenders Portal
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📞 Call the department directly using official numbers from dsd.gov.za
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❌ Never respond to tenders from domains like @e-dsdtenders.online
📌 SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL TEXT
"Dear Service Provider,
An exciting opportunity is presented to supply and deliver the requested product... Kindly be advised that this is an open request... you can find a supplier... Closing Date is within 3 working days."
🏷 Tags & Keywords
Keywords: Zikhona Sodika scam, e-dsdtenders.online fraud, DSD tender scam, fake procurement South Africa, Department of Social Development RFQ scam
Tags:
Tender Scam
Fake RFQ Alert
South Africa Procurement Fraud
Government Scam Warning
DSD Scam
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