Advance Fee Scams in Zambia
How advance fee fraud targets Zambians through fake mining contracts, inheritance notices, and government grant schemes.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance fee scams are well-documented in Zambia, targeting residents across economic levels with promises of access to large funds — often linked to the copper and mining industries that define Zambia's economy, or to government procurement contracts. Victims are required to pay a series of escalating fees before the promised funds are released, which they never are.
Zambia's mobile money infrastructure — particularly the widespread use of MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money — has made small and medium-size payments easy to execute, which scammers exploit to collect fees in amounts that seem manageable but accumulate to significant losses.
How this scam works on Zambia
A Zambian resident receives a message from a supposed lawyer, government contractor, or businessperson with a proposal: a mining contract that needs a local silent partner, an inheritance from a copper-industry executive, or a foreign fund looking for a Zambian account to process transfers.
The recipient is asked to pay a fee for legal processing, bank clearance, or a government stamp. Each payment unlocks a new requirement. The promised payout — always described as imminent — never materialises. Victims who resist further payments are sometimes threatened with loss of what they have already invested.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited message with a business opportunity linked to Zambia's mining or copper industry
- Any upfront fee required before funds are accessible
- Representative cannot be verified through Zambia's Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) or official contacts
- New fees appear after every payment
- Instructions to keep the transaction confidential
How to protect yourself
- No legitimate Zambian business deal or inheritance requires upfront fees from a private individual
- Verify any company or representative through PACRA before engaging
- Consult an independent Zambian attorney before committing any funds
- Stop all payments at the first fee request — further fees will not unlock real money
How to report it
- Report to the Zambia Police Service Financial Crimes Unit with all evidence
- Notify PACRA if a registered company's identity was misused
- Contact your mobile-money provider immediately if a transfer was made
Frequently asked questions
Why do scammers reference Zambia's copper industry in advance fee pitches?
Copper mining is Zambia's most prominent industry and is internationally recognised as a major source of national wealth. Scammers use locally resonant references to make their stories plausible. A pitch involving copper contracts or mining royalties sounds credible to both Zambian recipients and international targets. The industry reference is a credibility tool, not evidence of legitimacy.