EEC warns public about fraudulent purchase order scam

• Fraudulent purchase order scam doing the rounds is targeting existing and potential suppliers of goods
• scammers are using an incorrect domain

Mbabane: Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has issued a warning to the public and suppliers about scammers who are targeting the company.

In a statement issued by the company’s corporate communications department, the fraudulent purchase order scam doing rounds is targeting existing and potential suppliers of goods and services at EEC as well as other businesses in and outside of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

EEC warned suppliers to be vigilant on receipt of order enquiries on behalf of the company and take necessary precautions such that they do not become victims of the scam.

In a statement EEC said while they cannot prevent this fraudulent activity, they were supplying the Royal Eswatini Police Service with details to investigate the matter since the company has become aware of specific instances.

“The fraud scam involves purchase orders and requests for product quotations that purport to originate from EEC, but are in fact fraudulent” reads the statement.

Operate

EEC says the scammers operate in the following way; the supplier will receive an email requesting a quotation for goods. Once the quotation has been provided a purchase order is emailed to the supplier that bears resemblance of an unauthentic purchase order. The purchase order typically instructs delivery to an EEC address or one that is not affiliated with EEC.

The delivery addresses are usually domestic residence or self-storage facilities. After delivery, the supplier never receives payments and is unable to retrieve the shipped products.

EEC highlighted that the scammers are using an incorrect domain. The correct EEC domain is @eec.co.sz or sec.co.sz, however the scammers are using an incorrect domain which is @eec-sz.org. The scammers according to EEC also use false or unknown contact from EEC.

EEC warned that for any suspicious activity, the public must alert the company or alert the Royal Eswatini Police Service.

EEC is not the only company to fall prey of scammers. The first quarter of 2021 has seen many companies and parastatals being targeted by scammers, mostly job scammers. Paratstals which have fall prey include Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), Fincorp, NERCHA, as well as the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).

In most of the scam trends, people were told to pay money before they could be assisted, most of those who fall prey to the scammers were people who were vulnerable and looking for jobs.