Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Have you received an email from "Ben Alan and SIR GEORGE HARRIS" at the "UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program" telling you that you won the a prize and to contact "Mr.John Richards and John Scott"? It is a scam. In fact, what a load, as they say, of "rhymes with pollucks"!
There are only two legal large lotteries in Britain, the National Lottery and the Monday Lottery, anyway, and they do NOT use email to notify winners. Below is a scam email actually received.
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!
Other resources:
Also
In the UK, call the hotline at 020 7211 8111 to check or report lottery scams.
There are many other signs that this is a fraud that we have highlighted in the email below, typically including one or more of these:
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.
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
The National Lottery
PO Box 1010
Liverpool L70 1NL United Kingdom
Ref: UK/9420X/05
Batch: 074/05/ZY369We happily announce to you the draw (#1147) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on Saturday 13th Jan 2007.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 04 10 21 22 25 38 31(Bonus ball) which subsequently won you the lottery in the 1st category i.e. match 6 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand pound sterling) in cash credited to file XYL /26510460037/05 This is from a total cash prize of £1,000,000 (one million pounds sterlings) shared amongst the Three (4) lucky winners in this category i.e. match 6 plus bonus.
please do provide with the following informations: And send to our Fiduciary Agent.
FULL NAME...
ADDRESS:...
SEX:...
AGE...
TEL...FAX....(If any)
COUNTRY....
To file for your claim, please contact your fiduciary agent immediately via the email below.
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY FIDUCIARY AGENT
Name: Mr.John Richards
Tel: +447010082677
+447010085464
Email: infouknldpt9@yahoo.co.uk
Remember to quote your reference information in all correspondence. You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially your reference and ticket numbers. (This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained). Anybody under the age of 17 and members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate in this program.
Cordially,
Ben Alan
SIR GEORGE HARRIS
UK ONLINE NOTIFICATION DESK.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!
UK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).UK National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)Ref: UK/9420X/05
Batch: 074/05/ZY369Attn: Winner,
This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY. I am happy to inform you that i have forwarded your Original Certificate and your Certified bank cheque to a reputable courier company.
The courier company in accordance with your chosen mode of delivery can either deliver your winning parcel containing the afore stated documents to your point of contact, where it could be further converted into liquid cash and consequently lodged into your account under the auspices of the BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN YOUR COUNTRY.
OR they can help you convert the cheque into liquid cash here in the UNITED KINGDOM and further transfer the funds directly into your local bank account in your country or any country of your choice. When the direct international bank transfer method is employed, your funds will be made available for claims in your local bank within 48 hours.
The courier company in this case only delivery's the winning certificate by express delivery to your contact address so as to validate the claims from your local bank. It is also very imperative to note that due to the classified international delivery method employed by the courier company, THEY DO NOT DIVULGE THE IDENTITY OF THE BANK AND THE MODE OF TRANSFER.
This is in consonance with the regulations of the BRITISH STATE SECURITY AGENCY as a guard against internet hackers of online banks and it's likes. It also inhibits internet fraudsters who design pop up sites and impersonate companies known for their untainted reputations from perpetrating their unwholesome activities and defrauding people of their hard earned means of livelihood.
You'll find below details of the courier company.
Mr.John Scott
Managing Director
Greater London Hire Limited (Head Office)
GLH House
12-18 High Road
London, N2 9PJ
Phone: +44-703-184-5998
+44-871-504-4691
Fax: +44-870-478-4570
E-Mail: infoglhinfo@yahoo.co.uk
United KingdomYou are advice to send a mail to the dispatch officer of the courier company whose name and email address are clearly stated above, for detailed information on the courier cost of delivering your winning prize to your point of contact, AND/OR the requirements for effecting the direct bank transfer method.
When contacting them, you are to include this order number as your subject. PLEASE you are advice to write down the order number and save it for future references. ORDER NUMBER: UDF422IJU
Note: you are to Quote your complete names, Ticket Number and your direct phone number for your letters to be duly honored.
Please do keep me updated with your communications with the courier company.
Once again i say congratulations. PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED.
Thanks and remain blessed,
Yours faithfully,
Mr John Richards
Fiduciary Agent
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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