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Lottery Fraud / Scams (see examples below):
Every day, people throughout the UK open their post, receive a telephone call, turn on their computers or switch on their mobile phones to find they have unexpectedly won an exciting prize in a prize draw, lottery, sweepstake or other form of promotion. While some of these approaches are legitimate, others are a dishonest attempt to trap you into parting with your money or to steal your identity the registration or payment processing form usually ask for a comprehensive list of personal details including bank details.
Many common scams take the form of prize draws or lotteries designed to trick the unwary. Scams are usually based outside the UK, although they may use UK Post Office or mail boxes.
Typical scams may:
Offer access to a winning ticket or the prize in an overseas draw or lottery, or membership of a lottery syndicate, in return for an 'administration' or 'registration' fee
Require a purchase of some kind to receive a 'prize'
Suggest that there are government funds available to be claimed by individuals.
More often than not, there is no prize or reward on offer. Anything that is 'won' is usually sub-standard, overpriced or misleadingly described and worth much less than the requested fee.
To avoid becoming a scam lottery victim, remember these points:
Ask yourself 'How could I win a lottery prize if I haven't bought a ticket?'
Usually, if you win something you don't have to pay anything to receive your prize
Once you respond to bogus promotions, your name and address is likely to be placed on other lists for similar scams
If asked to use a premium rate telephone number, remember these can be very expensive and may be part of the scam
Never reveal credit card or bank account details unless absolutely sure who you're dealing with. These details may be asked for as 'identification'.
Typical warning signs include:
The approach, whether in writing, by phone or by email, is unsolicited
There is a very short time in which to respond to claim your prize or winnings
An invitation to send a 'processing' or 'administration' fee to obtain a prize or reward
The need to use premium rate phone lines
The source of the promotion is based overseas
An invitation to send money out of the country, particularly to the Netherlands or Canada, by money transfer
Prizes are expressed in foreign currency
An invitation to provide credit card or bank account details.
Please do not contact addresses, telephone / fax numbers or email addresses on these documents.
The Latest Lottery scams
El Combo Once (Example 2) - received 26/11/2007
El Combo Once (Example 1) - received 26/11/2007
Euro Millones (Example 2) - received 26/11/2007
Loteria Primitiva - received 04/07/2007
La Primitiva June 2007 - received 01/06/2007
Euro Millones (Example 1) - received 28/05/2007
The National Lottery Board - received 08/02/2007
International Lotto Commission - received 5th Nov 06 >> copy of document received
El Mundo Spanish Sweepstake Lottery - received 21st Sept 06 >> copy of document received
La Primitiva - received 31st Aug 06 - >> letter and application form
International Lotto Promotion - received 29th Aug 06 >> copy of document received
THE LATEST NETHERLANDS LOTTERY SCAM
CONGRATULATION!!! YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS WON A PROMOTION (Netherlands Lottery Scam) - received 19/06/2006
The below email is the first contact you could receive in the scam if you contact them you will receive two forms (see below message) if you fill them in you will receive contact from supposed lawyers who state they are dealing with your claim you will then be asked to send money to process your claim please note YOU WILL SEND MONEY BUT WILL NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING BACK!!!! DO NOT REPLY OR ENTER INTO CORRESPONDENCE WITH THESE PEOPLE
----- Original Message -----
From: promotionclaimpost
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 8:53 AM
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS WON A PROMOTION
STAATSLOTERIJ EMAIL PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
FROM:INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD.
PROMOTING INTERNET USAGE OVER THE GLOBE
(MICROSOFT ENCOURAGE GLOBALIZATION)
FROM: THE PROMOTION COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
Microsoft B.V. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice,the results of the
First Category draws of MICROSOFT PROMOTION INT. We are happy to inform
you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part
of our promotional draws. The draws are being officially announced today
22nd of June 2006. Participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies
from Africa, America, Asia,Australia,Europe, Middle East, and Oceania as
part of our International Promotions Program.
Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number 50941465206-529, with
serial number 5772-54 drew the lucky numbers 3-4-17-28-35-44 and
consequently won in the First Category.
You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000 (One
Million Euros), which is the winning payout for Category A winners. This
is from the total prize money from 1,500,000 shared among the 2 winners in
this category CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank.
In your best interest to aviod mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we
request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from
public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been
completed, and your funds remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants/nonparticipants of this program. Please
contact your claims department immediately for due processing and
remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice: To
file for your claim,please contact the fiduciary agent.
***********************************************
Mr.Peter van Holf,
Address:
Tel. :
Email :
***********************************************
You are advised to contact the agents by email.
Failure to do so may warrant disqualification.
NOTE: For easy reference and identification, find below your Reference and
Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in your correspondence with
your claims agent.
REFERENCE NUMBER: LSLUK/2031/8161/06
BATCH NUMBER: 15/051/IPD
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.
Sincerely Yours,
Mrs.MARISKA NOWAK.
THE PROMOTION COORDINATOR,
MICROSOFT NL.
N.B: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result
to disqualification.Contact your fiduciary agent immediately.
This promotional program takes place every year. This year promotion was
promoted and sponsored by THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STAATSLOTERIJ COMPANY B.V
AND BILL GATES, we hope with part of your winning you will take part on
our next year €2 million international promotion.
SPANISH LOTTERY SCAM
Received by email: 14/10/2004 - Titled: 'Congratulations!!!!!'
LOTERIA PRIMITIVA
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD BOARD
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA LOTTO.
REF N- FJ-546465-00153,BATCH N- 005684-9087.
Attn: Final Winning Notifications.
This is to inform you on the release of the EL-GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA PROGRAM held on Monday27th September 2004. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, the results were released on Tuesday 5ft October 2004.
Your name attached to ticked number 031-1127-841 with serial number 3214-07 drew the lucky numbers of 21-22-37-39-41-49 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd CATEGORY.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of [ Two Hundred Thousand Euros(€200,000,00)in cash credited to file with Ref. No - FJ-546465-00153. This is from a total cash prize of [ Four Million, Two Hundred Thousand Euros(€4,200,000,00) shared among the fifteen (15) international winners in this 3nd Category. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Your fund is now deposited with a financial company and insured with the winning number. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and also for the security of our winners.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from Fifty Thousand (50,000) names from Asia. Australia, New Zealand, Europe, America and North America as part of our international promotions program which we conduct once every year. we hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the next years program.
To begin your lottery claim, please contact your claims international agent via- EURO TRUST AND ACCREDITED PAYMENT AGENT BV.
MR. JAN DUKE ROGAN, Foreign Operation Manager.
Tel:
Email :
For the processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a designation of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than Friday 29th Oct. 2004, After this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA YHACIENDA as unclaimed funds and also be informed that 5% of your lottery winning prize belong to EURO TRUST AND ACCREDITED PAYMENT AGENT bv. Because they entered your named for this draw and they are your claim agent. This 5% will be remitted after you have received your winning prize because the money is insured on your winning number already.
Note: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complication, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once again from all our members of staff and thank you for being a part of our International Lottery Promotions
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Yvonne Van Rooy
Lottery Coordinator.
Received by post: 10/06/2004 - Titled:"Re: Award Final Notification".
This is a common example of the "Spanish Lottery" scam received in the post. The contact letter states numbers have been entered on your behalf by a computer ballot system, the letter also asks you not to mention the win to anyone until you have received the winnings due to their security protocol. The letter also states they are entitled to 10% of your winnings. The second document is an application form where you are asked to give personal details and bank account details etc. The information you provide then allows the fraudster to defraud you.