This notice was supplied to current active suppliers within Macquarie University’s purchasing database.
Macquarie University has recently become aware of fraudulent activity that is targeting Macquarie University and other suppliers.
This electronic scam involves requests for quotations and establishment of a credit account, then a subsequent issue of a purchase order, which purports to come from Macquarie University but is in fact fraudulent. In some cases the fraud has involved completing an online request for information/quotation through the supplier’s website.
It appears the scam operates through the ordering of goods which when delivered, are then transferred elsewhere and the supplier does not receive payment for the goods.
The University has informed the relevant law enforcement agencies and we will work with those agencies to investigate this fraudulent activity.
Information for suppliers
Though the investigation is ongoing we are aware of some common traits or themes of the fraudulent activity and its origin. These are as follows:
- The sender’s email address is not from the University’s email address domain which is @mq.edu.au. Fraudulent emails have been received by suppliers from:
- The email message is poorly written, with misspellings and awkward sentence structure.
- The email requesting a quotation or attaching a purchase order will appear to be from a staff member at Macquarie University’s accounts payable division.
- The purchase order will include a delivery address that is typically a warehousing and/or distribution centre that is NOT associated with the University’s current delivery address (Unit 2, Warehouse C, 68 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia).
- The phone number in the email will include the prefix ’61 2 8317′ (The University’s phone numbers all have the prefix 9850).
In the event that you suspect fraud in any way please contact your local law enforcement agency.
Should you wish to discuss this matter with us, please refer your query to Andrew Hallman, Director, Operations via email andrew.hallman@mq.edu.au or 02 9850 1670.
Macquarie University values its relationship with its suppliers and greatly appreciates your cooperation in reporting instances of suspected fraud.