The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory has become aware of a scam currently doing the rounds which seeks to defraud victims in the name of the Centre and the National Lotteries Board.
Fraudsters are sending poorly written text messages requesting that donations be made to charity, with the promise of a "winning cheque" for the donor once the endowment has been made.
Here is an example of one such message:
MY NAME IS MR RICHARDSON WILLIAMS, RICA GENERAL ACCOUNTANT MANAGER.WE ARE APOLOGISE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THE NATIONAL LOTTERIES BOARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH NELSON MANDELA CHARITY FOUNDATION . SAID THAT, YOU HAVE TO DONATE R7050, FOR S.A CHARITY FOUNDATION BOARD, TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF NELSON MANDELA CHARITY FOUNDATION, BEFORE YOUR WINNING CHEQUE OF R450,000:00,WILL BE DELIVERED INTO HOME ADDRESS [XXXXX]. CONTACT MR JOHN OWEN ON (021) 827 0804 PAYMENT INSTRUCTION .THANKS MR RICHARDSONS WILLIAMS. NOTE THAT THIS IS THE LAST PAYMENT.
Please be advised that the Centre does not send unsolicited messages and that any such communication should be treated with suspicion.
