It has come to the attention of the Nelson Mandela Foundation that a new digital scam – sent via email – is doing the rounds.
The scam, which is sent by “Mrs Graca Machel Mandela”, claims that as the third wife of the late Nelson Mandela she is requesting assistance to access US$30.5-million in cash given to her by Mr Mandela before his death.
The poorly worded email, which has the subject "From Mrs Graca Machel Mandela I PRAY THIS EMAIL FINE YOU IN A GOOD HEALTH", reads as follows:
"Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we may have not yet met. I could have notified you about it at least for the sake of your integrity. But please accept my sincere apologies.
I am Mrs Graca Machel Mandela the wife to late Nelson Mandela The former President of South Africa from 1994 till1999 who pass away on December 5, 2013 after long time illness on his physical, I managed to get your contact details through your Country Online services here in Johannesburg South Africa in my desperate search for a trustworthy person to assist me in this confidential business transaction,
As the Third wife of late Nelson Mandela, My late husband deposit cash the trust fund account on my name here in south Africa, for self keeping and as they all know that I am originally from Portuguese East Africa Mozambique, he did this because he knew that once he death, the entire families and the ex wife’s will come toward me for his heritance, now after his death the whole family have come as my late husband Nelson Mandela do inform me, it really looks like he know what will happen after his death,
Opposing me that I should hand over the asset to them, and good a thing that when my late husband deposited the money into the trust fund account on my hand we used my son name Mr Malengani Machel, who is currently living here in Johannesburg South Africa, for security reason,
My late husband, Nelson Mandela, made this deposit here in South Africa for my family use amount to US$30.5 MILLIONS (Thirty Millions, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cash. This amount of money was deposited into the bank here in South Africa through political diplomatic channels, After his death, I and my son being in Johannesburg, South Africa, decided to transfer this money out of South Africa for my family use since it is the only money that my family can lay hand on and I have all the original depositary documents of the money that was kept on my name Graca Machel Mandela
In acknowledgment of executive powers and the various business opportunities in your country, I am requesting your assistance in helping me transfer this money into your company/ personal or business account. For your assistance in this transaction, I offer you 20% of the total sum for compensation. And all other expenses you incur during this operation will be credited to you.
Please do not hesitate to contact my son Malengani Machel or me. All documents concerning this transaction will be made available to you for your safety and as a proof that this money is not from any criminal origin. I must then emphasize that this operation/transaction is highly confidential and is to be kept as such. Kindly provide me with your full names, private phone and address or you can on (gracamachelman3@mail.com)
Best regards,
Mrs Graca Machel Mandela"
Please be advised that this is a scam. The Foundation does not send unsolicited emails.