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 "Smith Carpenter" at "LUXATREL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Mr. Wallace Hopkins" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners vian email (see footnote) The scammers may change the names and details, but it is still a scam!
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "LUXATREL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES".
Although the most important clue is that no legitimate lottery will ever email a winner, 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:
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 it's own email, it's 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.
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
From Smith carpenter <s_utb@hotmail.com>
LUXATREL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES,
102 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, United Kingdom
London.
Ref:BUUSL/941OYI/02/IMES
Batch: 14/33/1166
Dear Lucky Winner,
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws of LUXATREL HIGH-STAKE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM.
The online Cyber Lotto Email draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 500,000 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet. However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.
After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as one of twelve winners in the first category with the following data
Ref:BUUSL/941OYI/02/IMES
Batch: 14/33/1166
Ticket Number: 025-11464992-750
You as well as the other winners are therefore to receive a cash prize of USD$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) each from the total payout.
Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be transferred to you upon meeting the requirements, statutory obligations, verifications, validations and satisfactory report.
To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised to contact our licensed and accredited claims agent/security company for first category winners with the information below:
Mr. Wallace Hopkins,
Foreign Services Manager,
Payment and Release Order Dept.
Tel:+44 703 5900 925
+44 703 5900 928
Email: wallacehopkins@strompost.com
NOTE: All winnings must be claimed within 10 days from today. After this date all unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake.Remember to quote your reference information in all correspondence with your claims agent.
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).
Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate in this program.
Thank you and congratulations!!!
Yours faithfully,
Smith Carpenter.
Games/Lottery Coordinator.
This email may contain information which is confidential and/or privileged. The information is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error,please notify the sender by telephone or return email and delete the material from your computer
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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