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Sweepstakes Scams: The Free Lotto Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes Scam Email:
The Free Lotto Sweepstakes
"DAVID JOSE", "DAVID LINGTOWN"

Have you received an email from "DAVID JOSE" at "The Free Lotto Sweepstakes" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "DAVID LINGTOWN" 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 "The Free Lotto 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 its own email, its own domain and website?

  • Keep Confidential - Real sweepstakes and lotteries THRIVE on publicity - they don't want you to keep anything secret - the publicity causes people to enter or buy more of their products. The scammer want you to keep quiet because they don't want the police or ConsumerFraudreporting to hear about them!

Here is a typical scam sweepstakes winning notification. 


Actual scam email (One example - the scammers constantly change names, dates and addresses!):

The Free Lotto Sweepstakes,
PO Box 42 Peter borough
SE15 2UD
UNITED KINGDOM

Ref No: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
Batch No:901/00319/HLP
Zonal Draw No: GMLA2-003
Grand Draw No: 12099

We happily announce to you the draw

This mail is to bring to your notice that your email emerged as one of our winning email address in our last lotto sweepstakes programme that made you automatically a winner of the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 500.000.00(G.B.P) which is equivalent to ($917,956.00 USD).

You are advice to contact the claim agent with your detail fill the claims form below and contact our fiduciary agent,

PAYMENT PROCESSING FORM

FULL NAME................................................

AMOUNT WON.........................................

FULL ADDRESS:........................................

SEX:..............................................................

AGE.............................................................

OCCUPATION...........................................

TEL...............................................................

FAX.............................................................(If any) COUNTRY..................................................

Note that you are automatically disqualified if you are below 18 years of age and illegal dissemination of this mail is highly prohibited.

FIDUCIARY AGENT MR.DAVID LINGTOWN

Email: agentdavidlt@sify.com

Sincerely,

DAVID JOSE
On line Coordinator
Free Lottery Sweepstakes


Names of Scam / Fake / Fraud Lottery 

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.