Have you received an email from "Dr.Wolfgang G. Crusen" at "EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION" telling you that "your
email address won in the first category" or something similar, and to
contact "Mr.Harry Henderson" to collect your winnings? It is a
scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners via email (see footnote) The scammers may
change the names and details, but it is still a scam!
See this page and
this page for variations
of the scam. "European Sweepstakes Promotion" is a popular name for scammers to
use.
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to
be from the "EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION".
-
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 excessive and random CapItaLiZAtion.
They often can't even spell "February" or know that "22th" ought to
be "22nd". These scammers usually write at the 3rd grade level.
Being non-native English speakers, they also often get first names and
surnames (last names reversed), so you will frequently see names like "Mr.
SMITH JAMES.", instead of "Mr. James Smith", along with the peculiar usage
of periods (full stops) and spaces or the lack thereof. 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!"
-
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.
From: "Euro Agent" < euro33agent@eyou.com
>
To: euro33agent@eyou.com
Subject: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 01:22:20 +0800
EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION
49 Chepstow Close, Lytton Grove,
London , SW15 2HG
United Kingdom.
Ref: win/oct102/06
Batch:05/10/wa34
AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES International
programs held on the 20th of MARCH 2007 in CROYDON, LONDON Your email address
attached to ticket number :1456 with serial number :5555/04 drew the lucky
number 3-1-174, which subsequently won you the lottery in the first category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 2,000,000.00 (Two
million euros) in cash credited to file wlp/23456/05. This is from a total cash
prize of 60,000,000 Million euros, shared amongst the first thirty (30) lucky
winners in this category.
In view of this, your 2,000,000.00 (Two million euros) would be released to
you by our redemption centers and Europe.
Our agents will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of
your funds as soon as you contact our agent.
All participants were selected randomly from World wide Website through
computer ballot system extracted from over 1,000,000 companies and individuals,
This promotion takes place annually.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be
warned.
To file your claims, please contact our agent:
Mr.Harry Henderson.
Universal Trust Inc.
Email: euro_henderson74@hotmail.com
Tel: +44-704-570-5404
Fax: +44-707-502-0586
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than two weeks of receiving
this notification. After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the
next stake.
To avoid unnecessary delay and complications, Please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program!!!
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely,
Dr.Wolfgang G. Crusen
Managing Director
European Sweepstakes Promotion.
