By Eva Visperas
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has issued a warning regarding fraudulent activities involving individuals posing as “accredited” suppliers with “valid” contracts in an attempt to solicit money and defraud businesses interested in participating in SMC projects.
The company reported that, in recent months, certain individuals claiming to be middlemen or representatives of SMC have been offering fraudulent supply deals for projects in Central and Northern Luzon. These scams have been identified in provinces such as Bulacan, Tarlac, and Pangasinan, among others.
The fraudsters have been approaching businesses with promises of securing supply contracts for various SMC projects, requesting payment in exchange for these purported deals.
In a statement on November 28, 2024, SMC clarified that it only conducts business with suppliers accredited through its Corporate Procurement Group. The company emphasized that, as a matter of policy, suppliers and bidders—whether new applicants or existing ones—are never required to make any payments in order to gain accreditation or participate in any bidding process by the San Miguel Group.
To protect themselves from falling victim to such scams, SMC advised prospective suppliers to direct all inquiries to its official email address: [email protected]. For added security, this email address is designated solely for receiving messages and inquiries, and the company will not respond to questions sent through other email addresses, social media platforms, or text messages.
SMC further urged potential suppliers to include their contact information when reaching out to ensure a smooth and legitimate communication process.