Warning signs
- You're asked to pay a registration, processing or "release" fee before you can quote or be appointed. Genuine government RFQs don't ask for this, and SmallRFQs never charges a fee to release an RFQ.
- You're told to buy from one specific supplier who then disappears with your money once you've paid for the stock.
- The contact details don't fit: free email addresses instead of an official government domain, or phone numbers that don't match the organisation's published numbers.
- Pressure and urgency: same-day deadlines paired with requests for your banking details or a deposit.
- An order out of nowhere for an RFQ you never quoted on.
How to check an RFQ
- Find the organisation's contact details yourself, from its official website, and phone the supply chain management office to confirm the RFQ and reference number.
- Look for the notice on the buyer's own website or the government eTender portal.
- Never pay anything to receive RFQ documents or an order.
If you think it's fake
Don't pay and don't send stock. Report it to the organisation whose name was used and to the police. If it reached you through SmallRFQs, email support@smallrfqs.co.za so we can remove it and warn other members.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Every RFQ has its own conditions, and the RFQ document always wins.