"Congratulations! You have won $500 000 in Mandela Awards!": the latest scam being circulated via SMS asks receiver to email their personal details to the sender to a authorise monetary donation from the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Once the receiver replies to the SMS via email, the fraudster asks for a copy of identification documents, as well as a list of personal details.
The email, from "Peter Nkosi", reads as follows:
"We have received your email and have commenced the payment process of your award totaling $500.00.00 which shall be paid through our paying bank in London, United Kingdom i.e. Atlantic credit bank. Note that you could be paid via their internet banking facility meaning that an account will be opened for you in their bank and all your account details will be forwarded to you and you can then transfer your funds directly by yourself to your account in Samoa or through their bank ATM card which would be sent to your address in American Samoa.
Please indicate in your reply mail the best option suitable for you to claim your award and in the late Nelson Mandela greatest quotes: Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”
We shall require a copy of your Identification card so that we can submit your file to the paying bank and also provide you with the contact details of the paying bank to enable you contact them so that that can inform you of the requirements of transfer of your award i.e$.500, 000.from the Nelson Mandela Foundation as instructed in his will for poverty alleviation in the world. Upon the receipt of your ID a scanned copy we shall then give you the details of the paying bank'
Also provide us with the following details to be used for our office use:
1. Your age
2. Full Names
3. Physical or postal address
4. Profession
We await your immediate response,
Kind regards,
Peter Nkosi
N.B: An award certificate will also be sent to confirm that you are a recipient of this amount from the Nelson Mandela Foundation"
Please be advised that email communications and SMS correspondence such as the above are fraudulent misrepresentations.
Please do not send your personal details via email or SMS to anyone, or any organisation, purporting to be associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Foundation does not send unsolicited emails.
