Have you received an email from "MRS STEPHANIE NKOSI" at "PROTEA WINNERS ORGANIZATION LOTTERY SOUTH AFRICA" saying you won
their promotion or lottery promo and to contact "DR NELSON SMITH" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. And don't get too excited if the names are different; the scammers
make many versions of this scam!
It is actually a very simple scam. They claim you won a
promotion, which is giving away millions of dollars based on a randomly selected
email address. The scam is obvious: it's simply preposterous to think that
any company would randomly give away money to encourage you to buy their product. That would be self-defeating.
Although the most important clue is that no legitimate lottery,
and almost no legitimate sweepstakes or promotions will 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:
It is a typical scam promotion sweepstakes winning notification. Also
see these pages:
From: " lottoboard06@katamail.com "
Subject: FINAL NOTICE OF AWARD NOTIFICATION
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:20:27 +0000
FROM THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS LOTTERY MANAGER,
PROTEA WINNERS ORGANIZATION LOTTERY SOUTH AFRICA,
13,LAKE VIEW DRIVE, AUCKLAND PARK
P.O.BOX 296, AUCKLAND PARK,
JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.
Your kind Attention:
FINAL NOTICE OF AWARD NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today the 23RD MARCH
2007,of winners of the PROTEA WINNERS ORGANIZATION LOTTERY, held on 28th
FEBUARY 2007 as part of our promotional draws.
Participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of
individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East,and New Zealand as part of our
electronic business Promotions lottery Program.
You qualified for the draw
as a result of you visiting Various websites we are running the e-business
promotions lottery for.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 139-3201-6409,with serial
number 570-10 drew the lucky numbers 1,8,14,20,31,46,72,and consequently
won in the Second Category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$3,000,000.00
in cash, which is the winning payout for Second category winners. This is
from the total prize money of S$21,000,000.00 shared among the Seven
international winners in the Second category.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with the Maco Finance and Security Company
insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we award
strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your
money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part
of your prize, you will participate in our up coming mid year (2007)
high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery. To begin your claim,
please contact your claim agent immediately:
DR NELSON SMITH
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
TEL: +27-78-232-6795
EMAIL: nelsonsmith2005@yahoo.com
Kindly contact your claims officer and provide him with the following
informations,
1. The Refrence Number.-------------------------------------------
2. The Batch Number.-----------------------------------------------
3. The Ticket Number.----------------------------------------------
4. The serial Number.------------------------------------------------
5. The lucky Number.-----------------------------------------------
FULL NAMES:________________________MAILING
ADDRESS:__________________________________SEX:_____________________
AGE/DATE OF BIRTH________________MARITAL STATUS:___________________
OCCUPATION:______________________TEL/FAX UMBER:_____________________
AMOUNT WON:__________________STATE/COUNTRY:_____________________COMPANY
NAME:________________________
If you do not contact your claims agent within 14 working days of this
notification, your winning prize money would be revoked.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers. Winners are advised to
keep their winning details/ information from the public to avoid fraudulent
claims. (IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim
REFERENCE NUMBER: KFQ-XV69-013b-9
BATCH NUMBER: 57-488-BBN
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you promotions
program.
Sincerely,
MRS STEPHANIE NKOSI.
Lottery Co-ordinator
PROTEA WINNERS ORGANIZATION LOTTERY SOUTH AFRICA
