Beware this scam

There’s another electronic
scam out there in cyber
space – this time addressed
to shipping companies that
use electronic funds transfer
(EFT) to pay their dues to
SA Revenue Service (Sars)
customs.
This new form of
“Nigerian letter” was
brought to FTW’s attention
by Dave Watts, maritime
industry adviser to the
SA Association of Freight
Forwarders (Saaff). He, in
turn, had received a warning
about the scam direct from
the office of senior customs
management at Durban
harbour.
“Please could you ensure
all our clients are warned
that this is a scam,” read the
e-mail which he had received
from customs.
“And it’s a very
impressive piece
of paperwork,”
Watts added,
“which could very
easily fool any
inexperienced
accounts staff in the
company that has
received it.
“All done on
what appears to be a
Sars letterhead, and
pretty convincing in
its choice of words
and grammar.”
But, fortunately,
it didn’t fool the
Sars department of
finance in Durban
– and they sent out
a firm warning to
all their client companies and
industry bodies about the
scam.
So, if you receive such an
e-mail or letter, either ignore
it and chuck it into the waste
bin, or – if you’re uncertain
v physically check it directly
with your local Sars customs
office.
DON’T BE FOOLED.