I have been in contact with a person in Zambabwe, Claims their accout
for Internet Provider is Yahoo.com I wish to know if Yahoo.com exist
in Zambabwe, I am trying to see if there is a possible scam.
Respectfully Robert Gilliam  "aka" motorcyclebob

Dear Bob, 

First of all, I am not sure what this person meant by ISP, but Yahoo!
is not one of Zimbabwe's Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Yahoo!'s own list of Zimbabwean ISPs
<http://dir.yahoo.com/business_and_economy/business_to_business/communications_and_networking/internet_and_world_wide_web/network_service_providers/internet_service_providers__isps_/by_region/countries/zimbabwe/complete_list/>

See also 
Internet Service Providers
<http://www.mathcs.sjsu.edu/faculty/pearce/net.html> 

Internet Connectivity
<http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profiles/zimbabwe/zimbinter.htm> 

US Aid - ZIMBABWE COUNTRY PAGE
<http://www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/leland/zimindex.htm> 

Also a localised version has not been developed: 
<http://www.yahoo.com/> - on the bottom of the page you'll see the
local versions of Yahoo! - none of them in Africa.

A local version of Yahoo! as a Zimbabwean ISP would, in fact, be 
http://www.yahoo.co.zw (Zimbabwe's suffix)
This address does not resolve to a website. 

However, it could be that your pen-pal is not clear on what exactly an
ISP is, and names his email provider as his ISP.

It is possible to sign up for a Yahoo.com email address from anywhere
in the world. In this case, they might be telling the truth about
their email, but it says nothing about their ISP or the nature of
their business proposal to you.

As you can see from this cached version of Zimbabwean classifieds,
many Zimbabweans use Yahoo! as their email service:
<http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:I0o3VW_OiA8J:www.mweb.co.zw/index.php%3FfSectionId%3D649%26cat%3D51+site:zw+yahoo&hl=en>.
It is also known that because of the government control and censorship
over .zw domains, many in fact prefer Hotmail or Yahoo! accounts.

I hope this answered your question. If you suspect a scam, check
further. Feel free to address me with further questions (of course, if
they are not about Yahoo! in Zimbabwe, you should post it separately).

Search strategy: 
Yahoo! Zimbabwe
ISP Zimbabwe
site:zw Yahoo
Testing and checking the address <www.yahoo.co.zw> on Whois tools.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by motorcyclebob-ga on 12 Jun 2004 10:37 PDT

Politicalguru-ga: Could you e-mail me at my e-mail account?

---

Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 12 Jun 2004 15:12 PDT

Bob, 

Unfortunately, Google does not allow us Researchers to contact people
outside the site (as in on email). However, in special cases, you
could email the letter to :
answers-help@google.com 
and they might forward it to me. 

Be warned: It is definitely a scam!!!

I am outraged like you, when people abuse the good hearted people like
you (you wanted to save these people!) to scam money out of you, but
like noted before, this is a well known scam. It has several version,
in which there are people somewhere in the Third World in dire
situation, and you have to save them by few simple banking transfers.
Many hard working and good hearted people have lost their money
consequently. See
The "Nigerian" Scam: Costly Compassion at the Federal Trade Commission site: 
<http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/nigeralrt.htm> 

I am a little upset by the response of your bankers. If I understand
your last comment correctly, you talked with your bank and they agreed
to do it. I would have thought that bankers would be a little more
aware of the problem and would try to be on your side in such matters
(yes, I know, a little paradox here - bankers on the side of the small
customer - but I think you know what I mean). I really think that if
you have the motivation (and evergy to hear lots of excuses), you
should talk with your bank or account manager and find out how
professional bankers do not know or will not protect the little guy
against fraud and scam.

Have a great weekend, despite it, and know - there are still people
like you, with heart of gold.

politicalguru-ga: I also got a response from Espred77-ga: espred77
said it is a Fraud,Thats for sure! Yahoo.com does not exist in
Zimbabwe and will not for a long time due to the presidents actions.
Altho politicalguru gave quite a bit of information, and says anyone
in the world can use Yahoo.com So I am left to still wonder! I am
pleased with the quick response of both, But still leaves me
unknowingly of my question for facts.    Respectfully, mtrcyclebob

This is a fraud. That's for sure. Yahoo.com doesn't exist in Zimbabwe.
people don't contact in person if someone is from a big organization
like Yahoo! One person can't act on behalf of Yahoo!
             Moreover all the Commonwealth nations have been banned to
deal with Zimbabwe becoz of the atrocious leader leading that country.
So mostly there'd be discouragement in any kind of investment in that
country. And Yahoo won't be in that place for some time from now.

espred77-ga; I recieved a comment from politicalguru-ga: it informed
me that anyone anywhere in the world can use Yahoo.com I related what
you had informed me, That it is a Fraud. as I told politicalguru, of
what you said, tho he informed me otherwise. I am left clueless. 
Respectfully, mtrcyclebob

Thier internet access will most likely be through a Zimbabwean
internet service provider (ISP), although it is possible to use any
service provider anywhere in the world. Yahoo may not provide a
service in Zimbabwe but it would in theory be possible for them to
dial into a foreign ISP, although the connection speed would be slow
and the call charges would be high.

Dear Bob, 

I am sorry you are dissapointed with the answer. However - this is the
answer: Yahoo is not an ISP, but anyone could have a Yahoo mail, since
it's free and accessible from anywhere in the world.

Could you please tell us a little more about this whole deal (maybe
post the mail you received without the email addresses and any other
identifying detail) - maybe we can help you in knowing if it is a scam
or not? If you think this would requier new Research, you can post it
as a new question.

Politicalguru-ga: The e-mail I have been recieving has been from a
"Barrister" (lawyer) in Zimbabwe, His Clients father was a very
wealthy white farmer with a title, He was murdered about 2 year ago.
He forseen the problems of the political future of Robert Mugabe
actions, Therefore he took a sum of money to another country.
Deposited cash into a Security firm. Since his oldest son was the
benificary to handle the Security Certificate and take care of the
rest of the family, Since things have gotten so bad, That the Client,
and "Barrister" and familys are white, And Client has been kicked off
his farm, (spoke with him prior to being kicked off)and now is in a
refugee camp. All assesets in Zimbabwe have been frozen. All land has
become State land. Through coorospondance, They deceided to trust in
me to go to the Security Co. (for which they sent me the Certificate,
And I have personally spoke with Security Co. man of whom they
entrusted to, and have a letter of Authorization for the two of us
acknowledged, It has the file no. and PIN #)They ask that I open an
account in my name, And has never asked for the account number, nor my
Social Security #. When I was to get to the Country, and Security Co.
I was asked to pay the fees due for the use of the Security Co. But
not to open the boxes, as for the security Co. knows of nothing that
is inside. I am to have a couple of Security guards accomply me to a
reputable Bank, and transferr the money to my account, for which I
have already talked with my Banker, And have a letter from them to
recieve the transferr. One of our Largest Banks here in USA. After I
have the money transferred, I will send or buy tickets for all to
leave Zimbabwe. When they arrive, The "Barrister" and Client and I
will go to my Bank and settle for my compensation 35% or work a
working business partner, for they plan on going into business in the
USA. Meantime, in order to help them get to the USA I am authorized
$50,000.00 for use to complete necessary help to get them to the USA.
They have promised to repay all debts I personally incurr, when we
settle at the Bank. Mind you I will have the 50thou. took out prior to
transferring money to my account at the country I am to go to. 
POLITICALGURU: I was not really disappointed, just confussed. I
actually think you provided great information, I am sure I rated you
to low. I am not much good at these kind of things, But I realize how
great you have done. 5 stars for sure. The amount is large, and Their
lives and Future depends on me, I am an Honest person, And no amount
of money would make me break my Honor, Respect, or Values!to anyone.
Just the way I am. Respectfully, And I ask should this be posted? I am
weary for I do not trust what people out there can do with these
computers, and such. Some of them have been mind boggling on what they
can, and do.

Motorcyclebob: regardless of Yahoo's status, or anything else, for
that matter, this is a scam.  Run, do not walk, away from this.
Here's one link of thousands on the subject:
http://www.jimloy.com/issues/nigeria1.htm

Scary

espred77-ga: And others: I have been spending much time on this
situation, I am a law abiding Disabled Vietnam Veteran. I fought for
"Freedom" (as per politicans back then)from 1965-1968 Spec.Ops. I
survived just over three years of "Total Hell". I still bear the
mental scars! I beleive in "Honesty" "Respect" "Honor" "Values"
"Truth" and "Morals". Very "Black and White about things". I really do
appreciate all of you that has commented on my questions! May Ya`ll be
BLESSED! I really have no respect for those that are out there
"SCAMING"! Would someone please send me whom to contact in our
Government, to see if I can assist them on at least this one "Scam". I
have contacted some Gov. Agencys with no reply, I also contacted the
Homeland Security, With no response! Whom may I contact? That will
reply? And or
Assist? What I do may be but "One", But maybe I will be helping many!
Respectfully,  mtrcyclebob

motorcyclebob:  although this page references the nigerian/419 scam
specifically, I'm guessing the task force would also handle similar
fraud attempts.  As it says, they concentrate on cases where people
have already lost money, but if you can forward the banking info you
were given, it may help.  Best of luck.

Scary
http://www.spamabuse.org/content_WhatToDoIfYouReceiveANigerianSpam.htm

I am outraged at this scam.
When uncertain contact the Zimbabwe Internet Service Providers
Association (ZISPA) for details but I can categorically state that
Yahoo is not an ISP as I sit in the capital city of Zimbabwe (Harare).
The address for ZISPA is http://www.zispa.org.zw but is fairly outdated.
Do you have the originating address for that mail?
If it's local (.co.zw) it can be investigated.
Cheers,
Varuzivi