NamWater warns of procurement scam targeting vendors
NamWater has issued a warning to vendors following the emergence of a scam involving individuals posing as officials from the utility’s procurement management unit.
According to a statement, the fraudsters are contacting suppliers and falsely promising procurement contracts in exchange for payments or so-called “facilitation fees".
In some cases, the scammers have used the names of genuine NamWater staff members and presented forged documents to lend credibility to their claims, the company said.
NamWater condemned the scam and clarified that it does not request or accept any payments from vendors in return for procurement opportunities.
“All procurement processes are governed by the Public Procurement Act (Act No. 15 of 2015, as amended) and are carried out in a transparent, competitive, and fair manner,” the water utility stressed.
Follow guidelines
NamWater urged vendors to be alert and issued the following guidelines: “Do not respond to any requests demanding payment in return for tender awards or procurement deals. Do not share sensitive or confidential information with individuals claiming to represent NamWater, unless their identity has been verified.”
Moreover, it urged individuals to only trust communication from official NamWater email addresses, which end in @namwater.com.na.
Moreover, verify any suspicious communication by contacting the NamWater procurement management unit directly at [email protected] or by calling 061 710 000.
NamWater also appealed to vendors to report any questionable activity or correspondence immediately, reiterating its commitment to integrity and transparency in all procurement dealings.
“We take this matter seriously and are working to protect our partners and the integrity of our procurement process,” the company stated.
According to a statement, the fraudsters are contacting suppliers and falsely promising procurement contracts in exchange for payments or so-called “facilitation fees".
In some cases, the scammers have used the names of genuine NamWater staff members and presented forged documents to lend credibility to their claims, the company said.
NamWater condemned the scam and clarified that it does not request or accept any payments from vendors in return for procurement opportunities.
“All procurement processes are governed by the Public Procurement Act (Act No. 15 of 2015, as amended) and are carried out in a transparent, competitive, and fair manner,” the water utility stressed.
Follow guidelines
NamWater urged vendors to be alert and issued the following guidelines: “Do not respond to any requests demanding payment in return for tender awards or procurement deals. Do not share sensitive or confidential information with individuals claiming to represent NamWater, unless their identity has been verified.”
Moreover, it urged individuals to only trust communication from official NamWater email addresses, which end in @namwater.com.na.
Moreover, verify any suspicious communication by contacting the NamWater procurement management unit directly at [email protected] or by calling 061 710 000.
NamWater also appealed to vendors to report any questionable activity or correspondence immediately, reiterating its commitment to integrity and transparency in all procurement dealings.
“We take this matter seriously and are working to protect our partners and the integrity of our procurement process,” the company stated.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article