DO NOT reply to any emails you receive that claim you have won a lottery that
you did not enter. They are frauds. You will lose your money.
There is no "free lunch"; don't be foolish and believe a scam! We can not
say it any more plainly: YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL BY ANY
LEGITIMATE LOTTERY THAT YOU WON A PRIZE. If you do receive such an email,
it IS a fraud, do not reply to it! If you DID reply to one,
see this page to find out
what happens next!
In the UK, call the hotline at 020 7211 8111 to check or report lottery scams.
-
Email address ballot: There is no such thing as a
"computer ballot system" or "computer email draw". No one, not even
Microsoft has a database of email addresses of the type or magnitude they
suggest.
-
Terrible spelling, punctuation, syntax and grammar - Scammers
apparently don't know how to use spell checkers. We assume they
dropped out of school before that class. They use almost random
CapItaLiZAtion and often can't even spell "February" or know that "22th" ought to
be "22nd". Real lotteries proofread their emails and use people
who can write above the 3rd grade level.
-
Using free email account: The scammer is writing to
you from a FREE email account (Yahoo, Hotmail, Excite, AIM, Gmail, etc.). Don't you think a real organization
would use its own email, its own domain and website?
-
Keep Confidential - Real lotteries THRIVE on
publicity - they don't want you to keep anything secret - the publicity
causes people to buy more tickets. there is NO risk of "double claiming"
because they can validate where the ticket numbers were sold. The scammer
want you to keep quiet because they don't want the police or
ConsumerFraudreporting to hear about them!
-
Email notification: NO REAL LOTTERY SENDS AN EMAIL TO
NOTIFY WINNERS. Period. Full-stop. End of story. There mere fact
ALONE that you received an email saying you won a lottery is proof that it
is a scam.
-
Courier / delivery charges are high due to Hardcover insurance Policy
- If you respond to them, you will usually receive an email telling you you
must pay delivery charges. First, as we mentioned earlier, no winner would ever have to pay delivery
charges in a real lottery, sweepstakes or promotion. Secondly, there
is no such thing as "hardcover insurance policies" . Go search in Google and
see if you can find a definition for it!
"u_k_british lottery" <u_k_b_l95@hotmail.co.uk>
Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: URGENT NOTIFICATION /
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:33:38 +0000
YOU HAVE WON THE BRITISH LOTTERY 2008
BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS,
CUSTOMERS SERVICES,
33 YATCH BASIN MARINA OFFICE,
UPON TYNE NEW CASTLE LONDON.
Batch: 14/211/0374: Ref: BTL/311OXI/02.
CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON!!!!
We happily announce to you the draw of the British
lottery program held in London, Your e-mail address attached, to ticket
number: 694/7560/0545/721 with Serial number: 886/04 drew the lucky numbers:
016/213/3517, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category,
you are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of 1,000.000.00 (One
Million Pounds Only) in cash credited to file RPC/9080/1153/2244 This is
from a total cash prize of 125 million pounds starlings.
This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest
ever for British Lottery; the estimated 125 million jackpots would be the
sixth biggest in U.K. history, The biggest was the 363 million pounds
starlings jackpot that went to two winners in December 2005 drawing of The
Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor. Please note that your lucky winning
number falls within our African booklet representative office in South
Africa as indicated in our play coupon, In view of this, your 1,000.000.00
(One Million Pounds Only) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in
South Africa.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For
security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claim your fund, is processed and your money remitted
to you in whatever manner you demand fit to claim your prize.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid
double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
IMMEDIATELY THROUGH EMAIL OR YOU CALL HIM.
MR. STEVE OWEN
Phone Number: + 27 83 559 8013
Contact Email:
ssteveowenukagent@yahoo.com
Endeavor to email him with your full names, winning
numbers, email address, telephone and fax numbers immediately.
Congratulations; from me and members of staff of THE
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully
Lotto manager
