Nkomazi – The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements has issued a stern warning against fraudulent activities. “The Department has learnt that a particular person is producing fraudulent letters under the name of the Department of Local Government and Housing issuing them to unsuspecting housing contractors in a bid to solicit money from them to carry out fraudulent transactions” said the department spokesperson Simphiwe Kunene. The Department’s Acting HOD, Cyril Dlamini also urged all community members to verify with the department any correspondences regarding appointment letters to service providers. The alleged fraudsters are believed to be faking appointment letters and approaching unsuspecting service providers in order to solicit money from them under false pretence. The latest incident involves one party who offered another a fake appointment letter to construct government low cost houses (RDP’s) at Umjindi Local Municipality and allegedly solicited funds for such an appointment. “The department would like to appeal to the public that no elements of this nature will be tolerated and investigations into the matter will be carried out,” warned Dlamini. “There is no official on our system that is said to be attached to the department which has been implicated to be part of this scam. No amount of information mentioned in the letter is truthful and correct and the department views such a scam in a serious light. To this end, the department laid a charge of fraud on this matter with the Commercial Branch of the SAPS and we will be eagerly waiting for a report in the progress of the case,” continued Dlamini.