Madiba dragged into 419 scam
2002-04-04 21:55
Johannesburg - The names of prominent South African politicians, including former President Nelson Mandela and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, have been dragged into a Nigerian 419 letter scam uncovered in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, on Thursday.
A Nigerian, who claims to be the late Oliver Tambo's younger brother, used the names of Mandela, Manuel and Jeff Radebe, minister of public enterprises, to con wealthy international businessmen out of their money.
No one knows how many of these letters have found their way overseas or how long he's been abusing the politicians' names.
Inspector Kriban Naidoo said: "It's the first time we've found Nigerian 419 letters that incriminate South African politicians. Hundreds of these letters may have reached businessmen in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries. It is frightening."
Police suspicions were confirmed when they discovered a box of 419 letters and international phone directories with the fax numbers and e-mail addresses of multimillion-rand international firms during a raid on the Coronian Hotel.
The police also found 14 fax machines, 14 Telkom phones, telephone directories and reams of paper in the hotel rooms. Some of the letters were already in addressed, stamped envelopes - ready to be posted.
Naidoo said: "[Former president Nelson Mandela's name is known worldwide and many businessmen will fall for the treacherous letters."
'Junior' brother of Oliver Tambo
In the letter, "Emmanuel M Tambo" claims to be a senior legal official at "SA Gold and Diamond Mine and Processing in Krugersdorp" and that he is the "junior" brother of former African National Congress president, Oliver Tambo.
According to him, freedom fighters such as Mandela, Manuel and Radebe, were honoured for their contribution to the struggle with cabinet posts.
The letter claims he has $35 million in South Africa that he wants to transfer to an overseas bank account before the government can lay claim to it.
Should a businessman help Tambo with the transfer, he would receive 20 percent commission - but in the meanwhile, the businessman had to pay 5 percent into Tambo's South African bank account as part of an administration fee to settle the deal.
The letter quotes fax and telephone numbers at which Tambo can be contacted.
Naidoo said no one had been arrested in connection with the scam on Thursday and police were continuing their investigation. These letters are not always faxed, but are also e-mailed to businessmen.