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 "Mrs. Kirt Loberg" at "Zürich Lotterien" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Information and Payment Bureau, London Representative Office " 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! These scammers have some cheek to claim they are in Britain.. see their reply to a victim when she tells them she won't pay to receive the winnings. And also see this variation of the same scam.
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "Zürich Lotterien".
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 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.
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
Zürich Lotterien
Central Office.
Management and Central Services:
Weg 205 B - 02241, zum Erfolgreichen, Switzerland.We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws of Zürich Lotterien Program.
Zürich Lotterien draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 20,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year. No tickets were sold.
This program is organized by the international lotto and games subcommittee, endorsed by the European lottery guild in conjunction with NGO organizations in Switzerland.
After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial number 02-87-87 drew the lucky numbers 4-11-41-26-02-62, which consequently emerged as one of first ten (10) lucky winners in the United Kingdom category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay off of ?1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash credited to file ZL/07/4007. This is from total cash prize of ?50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty- (50) lucky winners all around the world. Your funds are now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover insurance.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in London. In view of this, our affiliate bank in the Europe would release your ?1,000,000.00 (One Million Euro) to you in the United Kingdom.
To claim your prize funds, you are required to come directly to our UK office for directly claim. If you have problems with coming to our office you can make a wire transfer of your funds to your private bank account. You can also employ the use of a courier service company to deliver your winning cheque to your home or office address.
For a telegraphic transfer of your funds to your private bank account, you are required to send your name and address in full, phone number, bank name, bank address, next of kin, account number, Swift/Routing/Sort Code, so as to facilitate the release of your funds to your stated bank account.
For a courier service delivery ,you are required to send your name, phone number, information of next of kin, mailing address(home or office address), so as to facilitate the release of your Funds to your desired address.
You are required to send the necessary information as regards your chosen option to our help line below:
Zürich Lotterien
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office
Help Service Contact
Tel: +44 701-115-0676
Fax: +44-870-974-406
E-mail: mailzurich@uk2.netYou will be assisted in the processing and remittance of your prize funds as regards your chosen option.
Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than 10 days. After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed. please endeavor to quote your Reference Number:ZL/07/4007 and Lucky numbers:4-11-41-26-02-62 in every correspondence with your help service.
Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for being part of our promotions program.
Mrs. Kirt Loberg.
Promotions Manager.
Zürich Lotterien
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 not be questioning it.