Scammer Impersonates City of Tshwane CFO in Tender Scheme

The City of Tshwane would like to alert the public to a concerning case of fraud involving an individual impersonating the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Gareth Mnisi. This scammer has been sending fraudulent emails to service providers under the guise of discussing tenders.

The first incident occurred on Friday, 18 October 2024, when the scammer, posing as the CFO and using the alias “Trevor Mnisi,” sent an email requesting urgent contact. The fraudulent message read: “Kindly inform the director to contact me ASAP on 073 034 5859 regarding tender no: EAM01-2024-25 for the supply, delivery, and off-loading of refuse bags on an as-and-when-required basis for a period of three years.”

Emboldened, the scammer sent a second email with another fabricated tender, stating: “Kindly inform the director to contact me ASAP on 073 034 5859 regarding tender no: HHS01-2024-25 for the sewer line connection to 1051 reticulated stands at Mamelodi x6 Phomolong.”

These emails are clearly the work of an unprofessional fraudster and should be treated as such. The City urges the public to be vigilant and not engage with such messages, which are communicated via email or other unofficial platforms. Legitimate City tenders are always advertised through established channels, including newspapers.

The City is taking this matter seriously and will be filing a formal case with the South African Police Service, requesting that the case be escalated to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). The goal is to apprehend and prosecute this individual for attempting to commit fraud using the name of the City’s CFO.

Stay cautious, and report any suspicious communication to the authorities.