Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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If you replied to the email from "Ashley Baker" at "British National Lottery Headquarters" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar; you will now receive an email like the one below, that instructs your to choose one of the 3 options to collect your winnings, Of course, you can come to their office to pick up your "winnings'. But we'll bet you their office is not even in your country or continent! That's part of the scam.
And that forces you to choose options 2 or 3... which, require YOU to pay fees. gee, what a surprise! And now you see the scam unfold!
Although the most important clue is that no legitimate lottery will ever email a winner, nor require a winner to pay any fees, taxes or delivery charges, there are many other signs that this is a fraud. We have highlighted some of these in the email below, not the least of which are:
NO LOTTERY ANYWHERE REQUIRES WINNERS TO PAY FEES, TAXES OR OTHER CHARGES TO COLLECT THEIR WINNINGS!!! Can we say it any more plainly than that?
Pigeon English - Notice that as the scammer gets past the initial template email and must write free-form, how his grammar, spelling and basic sentence structure go straight in the toilet. The scammers don't even know how to use spell checkers. After all, this is a stupid, low-life criminal in the heart of Africa, who probably dropped out of school at age 5 to join a gang or militia. Obviously, real lotteries also proofread their emails and look and read more professional.
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! It should read: "For our own security, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until we have finished scamming you!"
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
British National Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON, LONDONRef: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304Dear John Hall,PAYMENT OPTION
We are glad to inform you that your Claims information was successfully received at the British National Lottery Headquaters.
Be informed that you are required to choose one of the three options listed below, to facilitate transfer of your claims. For any option chosen, you may be required to provide additional information.
1. You proceed immediately to our Payment Offices in London to redeem your prize and to have your prize sum of £250,000 (Two-Hundred and Fifty thousand pound sterling) awarded to you in cash that would be moved to a vault company immediately after indicating this as your preferred option of payment.
2. Transfer of your prize claims to your local bank account in your country by Telegraphic Bank transfer. This will take approximately 48 Hours for the process to be completed and is subject to the banking policy.
3. You employ the services of our affiliate courier company to deliver your Award Certificate and Certified Bank Cheque to you.
SPECIAL NOTICE: FOR OPTION 2 OR 3 TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCRUING CHARGES ARE DIRECTLY BEARABLE BY THE LOTTERY WINNER AND NOT OUR ORGANIZATION.
Thanks,
Ashley Baker.Phone Number: +(44) 702 403 7471
Senior Fudiciary Officer
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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