The Foundation has been made aware that a new scam is doing the rounds, this time via SMS. Members of the public are urged to not be fooled.
The fraudulent (and unsolicited) SMS reads as follows: “CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR CELL NUMBER WAS CHOSEN AMONG MILLIONS OF OTHERS, BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION & THE NELSON MANDELA CHARITY ORG. WE ARE COMPENSATING SOUTH AFRICANS FOR SUCCESSFULLY HOSTING THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP & ALSO CELEBRATING 17 YRS OF FREEDOM. YOU HAVE WON R100,000.YOUR REF NUMBER IS JM44PA. CONTACT MR ANDRE BILL ON 0727894726 FOR YOUR CASH PRIZE IMMEDIATELY. THANKS.”
Members of the public who receive such a SMS, or similar, are urged to not act. Do not contact the sender, do not follow any instructions indicated in the text message. The Nelson Mandela Foundation does not send unsolicited text messages.