Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Now the scammers are busy on Yahoo Messenger, Chat rooms and other online forums. Have you been IM'ed by "Mrs Megan Christofferson "from "British Football Premiership Lottery" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Mr Christopher John" 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 the example of the fake email scam (the email is the scam, not any persons or companies named in the email) claiming to be from the "Mrs Megan Christofferson ".
If you'd like to send the scammer junk mail, his email address is w_agent2006@yahoo.co.uk and his phone number in the uk is 447045745349 (from the US dial 011-44-704-574-5349), but the phone seems to be disconnected already.
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.
"No tickets were sold": You care to explain where the money comes from? Perhaps the lottery money fairy? Why would a lottery give away money to "email address randomly selected by a computer ballot draw system"? This is CLEARLY nonsense: you MUST, repeat MUST buy a ticket to have a chance of winning any lottery!
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. Names are usually in all capital letters for some reason known only to these illiterate criminals. 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.
nmegch555: Your email address emerged alongside 2 others as a 3rd category winner in this month's draw. Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of £4,000,000 Pounds (Four million pounds) only.
PotentialVictim: and how was my email found?
megch555: We have a software tool,this tool was activated some hours ago to select 3 lucky winners online
megch555: while this software was activated you and 2 others where very lucky
PotentialVictim: how do I know you are being serious. This sounds so much like a SCAM PotentialVictim: I received this kinds of email before
megch555: to have been picked out of the hundreds
PotentialVictim: this is a scam isn't it
megch555: This is no scam
PotentialVictim: ok then answer this question for me
megch555: you don't need to have little faith about this games
megch555: ok
PotentialVictim: How much money do I need to pay you?
PotentialVictim: Is there a fee needing to continue with this transaction?
megch555: I never asked you for any money
PotentialVictim: ok
PotentialVictim: well send me my money
megch555: Yes but if there is a fee it will be based on your winning certificate which needs to be endorsed in the British High Court
megch555: You will get your funds this i assure you
megch555: But you need to follow instructions on this
megch555: so that every necessary process would go on accordingly
PotentialVictim: Why would I have to pay money for moneys that are supposedly random from a drawing
PotentialVictim: that I supposedly won?
megch555: You are not British are you ???
PotentialVictim: it should be given for free dont u think?
PotentialVictim: No I am a local girl from hawaii
megch555: you won but you should know that you need to contact the bank as this transaction
megch555: nobody called you one
PotentialVictim: do the british just give money away?
megch555: They don't
megch555: but you should know that
PotentialVictim: that is awesome
megch555: they are the owners of the British Premiership
PotentialVictim: how much is this fee?
megch555: the fees would be based on you geting your wining certificate because once you have your winning certificate and you send it to the bank they will immediately transfer your funds to you
PotentialVictim: what is 4 million pounds equivelant to in us dollars?
megch555: It is about $7.4 million dollars
megch555: the cost of the fees is about £1457 Great Britsh Pounds
PotentialVictim: how much is that?
PotentialVictim: in us dollars?
megch555: its about $2500 dollars
megch555: you know the British Currency
megch555: is the highest currency in the whole world
PotentialVictim: ok and why does it cost $2500
megch555: and the British Football Premiership have given private companies a 20 % of there total assets
PotentialVictim: why can't it be taken out of the 7.4 million?
megch555: It costs $2500 because your winning certificate has to be endorsed because this funds is a lot of funds you won
megch555: and the fees in pounds is converted to dollars
megch555: because of the great value it has
megch555: it is almost double of the British amount
megch555: your winning cash prize
megch555: is on a security hold
megch555: this security hold means that no certain amount can be withdrawn until you have been able to tender your winning certificate to the Bank
megch555: this is the instruction
megch555: this the bank need to be able to facilitate immediate transfer to you
megch555: are you there ?
megch555: Hope you understand me ?
PotentialVictim: i am here
PotentialVictim: but I have received emails like this in the past
PotentialVictim: what is your name?
PotentialVictim: Send me the info that I need to follow
PotentialVictim: what is the numbers?
PotentialVictim: or whom I need to conact
megch555: listen to let you know that this is not like those emails you receive,since the scam has been going on we have decided to stop sending any notice through the emails again
megch555: so we have decided to use this way
megch555: never mind the emails you need to follow instructions from me an
megch555: My name is Mrs Megan Christofferson
megch555: I am an aged woman of 52 years old
megch555: and i am old enough to do what is right
megch555: because nobody knows my last days on earth so i have to show and leave by example
megch555: Please do not take me for a scam or anything
megch555: I am an american woman
PotentialVictim: do you have a phone number i can call you?
megch555: who has been praying for an american like myself to win such an amount of winnings
megch555: no i don't
megch555: am not on the phone lines
megch555: my boss is
megch555: would you like to call him
PotentialVictim: why can't I get a phone number to call?
megch555: ???
PotentialVictim: Yes I want to talk to you but?
megch555: you can right now
megch555: you can't talk to me
PotentialVictim: I would like to talk to you specifically
megch555: only my boss
megch555: yes i know
megch555: maybe some other time
megch555: but as of now
megch555: they feel that i will leak secrets
megch555: because you know am dealing with the british here
megch555: am the only american worker here
megch555: they might want to feel that am giving my people thats americans
megch555: informations on how they can win
megch555: thats why i was not allowed ok
PotentialVictim: ok a phone number?
megch555: Please do try and understand
megch555: Mr Christopher John
megch555: do you need his number to call and discuss with him now ?
megch555: if you are in any chat room
megch555: please leave the chat rooms
PotentialVictim: I am in no chat room
megch555: this is very important because the management will not like you to be there
megch555: to avoid double claims of your winnings ok
megch555: you have been detected there ok
megch555: you are in the hawaii room
megch555: why don't you move out of the room
megch555: if you are really serious about this money
megch555: because am american and i don't know where you are from
megch555: if you are from usa too
megch555: then i think that am lucky to have since a winner from usa like myself too
megch555: and would be very happy if you are from the usa
PotentialVictim: so whats up
megch555: Please tell me are you american too
PotentialVictim: yes
megch555: oooh my God
megch555: thats great
megch555: am so happy
megch555: lol am so happy because there has not been any winner from usa
megch555: your the only winner from usa
megch555: do you know what ?
megch555: I am always sent to the countries of all the winners
megch555: and it's on the companies expense
megch555: and that means they will sponsor me to my own country
megch555: where i get the opportunity to reach my family
megch555: I am sent there because they want me to see how the winners are
megch555: and also share the happiness
megch555: lol
PotentialVictim: so u got a number?
megch555: You don't seem to understand me dear
megch555: I am not allowed to use any phone
megch555: till you have received your winning cash prize
PotentialVictim: a number for me to call someone?
PotentialVictim: to talk about this
megch555: this is for security reasons
megch555: yes there is a number
megch555: do you want to call the head of the accounts department ???
megch555: Mr Christopher John ???
PotentialVictim: how do I claim this?
megch555: 1st of all we have a security information
megch555: and instruction which you have to read carefully
megch555: before i can give you more information
megch555: you would have to abide by the rules
megch555: this is to make sure that you are the only person from the usa
megch555: that is going to receive this winning cash prize amount
PotentialVictim: ok
megch555: so tell me when you will be ready to read this instruction ?
PotentialVictim: start now
megch555: ok
megch555: Well you have to know much about this games and maintain the instructions and secret policies of this games before you can claim your winning prize
PotentialVictim: which is?
megch555: You have to assure us of the informations we are giving you about your winning money because it's a lot of money and we want to avoid the last experiences we had in the past due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your Winning information confidential until your claims have been processed. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming andunwarranted abuse of this program by some participant.
megch555: so we advice you not to divulge this informations we are giving to a third party we are going to give you our office number which you will be able to reach us anytime and we should have yours to as time goes on I would advice you to relax your mind because you are not the only winne this is real I take an oath on my grandmothers grave that this is real can i jus give u my info now I assure you of this i know it came to you as a surprise
megch555: Just relax and follow instructions we are going to take this step by step so can you maintain this informations because we don't want someone else to know that you won because this can make us lose because in the previous games there was some mix ups in the winning numbers this was because of some winners who where so excited and went on telling there friends and family that they had won a lottery they ended up giving out to there friends there winning numbers not even knowing that there friends could go behind and go and claim the winnings
PotentialVictim: and that is?
PotentialVictim: what is the number?
megch555: have you read the instruction ?
PotentialVictim: yes
PotentialVictim: go on
megch555: you have to tell me and tell me what you have understood by that ?
megch555: tell me what all the message means to you
PotentialVictim: that there is a number that you are going to give me
PotentialVictim: and i need to keep it confidential
megch555: not only that
megch555: you need to keep this whole information confidential to
megch555: to avoid someone else from coming for the money
megch555: when the bank must bhave already paid you the money
megch555: its easy to do
megch555: if only you can keep secrets
megch555: can you ?
PotentialVictim: yes go on
megch555: ok then
megch555: Now i have your winning numbers with me which the member of the board of trustee have instructed me to give to only the winners this is what we have been telling you about this numbers are very important and must be kept safe and personal
megch555: are you ready to receive them now ???
PotentialVictim: YES
PotentialVictim: what is the numbers?
megch555: (i) Winning numbers: 31,49,52,60,71(ii) Serial number: 3219(iii) Game number: BW-09-SGL(iv) Reference number: SGT/0086/05
megch555: This are your 4 lucky winning numbers
PotentialVictim: ok so what do i need to do now?
megch555: You have to send them to the Head of Accounts Department vian email and you have to give him a call after you must have sent him your winning number his private and company email is w_agent2006@yahoo.co.uk
megch555: To Mr Christopher John
megch555: His telephone number is +447045745349
megch555: Once you have been able to send him your winning numbers
PotentialVictim: ok
megch555: You have to give him a call
megch555: can you do all this now
megch555: it's very important
PotentialVictim: no not now gatta go
megch555: can you ?
megch555: when then ???
megch555: but send him your winning numbers
megch555: before he goes off
megch555: I will add you right away
megch555: why did you do that ??
PotentialVictim: because you are not one of my friends
megch555: Really why?
megch555: me that will see you soon in the states
megch555: I am from wisconsin
PotentialVictim: that is nice to know
megch555: ok
megch555: listen i am here to support you all through
megch555: now that i know youn come from usa like myself PotentialVictim: Yes but still you won't give me a number to hear yoursel PotentialVictim: that is not cool of you Meg
megch555: listen
megch555: I am earning my living here in this office
megch555: and i can not please you and lose my job ok
megch555: am divorced in the usa
megch555: thats why i can here to seek for a job
megch555: and have some free time to rething about my life
megch555: and move on in life
PotentialVictim: that is good for you
megch555: Yes it is
megch555: just don't lose faith in this
PotentialVictim: Congratulations
megch555: and don't be bothered
PotentialVictim: you told me that you won money too PotentialVictim: why do you have to work in that office
megch555: I never said that
megch555: please don't get me wrong
megch555: I said i am from usa too
megch555: But am here for now
BUZZ!!!
megch555: are you there ??
PotentialVictim: yes I am here
megch555: ok
megch555: have you sent him your winning numbers yet ???
PotentialVictim: Yes
megch555: when did you do that???
megch555: please if you are not interested just say so
megch555: my boss said you have not said the truth PotentialVictim: I am not going to call him you know whY??
megch555: you never sent him your winning numbers
megch555: why ?
PotentialVictim: because you are a fucken scam
megch555: I am not
megch555: why say this to me ?
PotentialVictim: YOU GUYS ARE A F****** SCAM
PotentialVictim: YOU SENT MY FRIEND THE SAME F***** NUMBERS
PotentialVictim: I WILL REPORT YOU GUYS I HAVE YOUR IP FINALLY LOCKED
PotentialVictim: THEY WILL FIND YOU PotentialVictim: I TRACED YOU
megch555: Listen to me
megch555: stop confusing yourself
ame. This was done on yahoo.
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
* Re: emails of winnings. We know of only ONE exception in the world to this rule - and if you bought a ticket from them, you would know it, and would used their safegaurds.
* Re: emails of winnings. We know of only ONE exception in the world to this rule - and if you bought a ticket from them, you would know it, and would not be questioning it.