davenerven
6 November 2005, 10:47
This scam emails claims that you have won a big prize in a lottery you have not entered. Later, the scammer will ask for "processing fees", "bank charges", "transfer charges", "government taxes", "foreign payment certificates", etc, etc.
Please note that sometimes, the scammers will offer to pay for your "processing fees" or other charges. They will offer to send you the cost of the fees via a fake check which they want you to cash for them and then send them the fees. If you think about it, this cannot make sense as they could have received the fees directly themselves. WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO SEND YOU FEES ONLY FOR YOU TO RETURN THE MONEY? THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS, THE CHECKS THEY ARE SENDING YOU ARE FAKE!
Scam Alert Points:
1. Note the use of free webmail addresses by the scammer
2. The attempt to switch the victim to another email address in case the first one gets closed for spamming
3. Email is not actually addressed to you
4. You have never bought a ticket or entered this lottery.
EXAMPLE OF SCAM LOTTERY EMAIL:
From: UK ONLINE LOTTERY <uk_lottogames@msn.com>
Date: Nov 6, 2005 5:32 AM
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION
The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw (#1028) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,
online Sweepstakes International program held on Wednesday November 2nd
2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545188 with Serial
number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 02-05-13-30-39-49(bonus no.), which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,400,000 ( one
million four hundred thousand pound sterling) in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.
This is from a total cash prize of £14,000,000 shared amongst the first
ten (10) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World
Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
unions, associations and corporate bodies that are listed online. This
promotion takes place weekly.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.
In view of this,you have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
£1,400,000 ( one million four hundred thousand pound sterling) .This sum
will be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.
Our European agents will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact them.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential until your claims is processed and your money remitted to you
in whatever manner you deem fit.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program.Please be warned.
To file for your claims, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr Graham Wright.
Email: grahamwalpole02@yahoo.com
Goodluck from me and members of staff of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
Richard K. Lloyd.
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program
Please note that sometimes, the scammers will offer to pay for your "processing fees" or other charges. They will offer to send you the cost of the fees via a fake check which they want you to cash for them and then send them the fees. If you think about it, this cannot make sense as they could have received the fees directly themselves. WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO SEND YOU FEES ONLY FOR YOU TO RETURN THE MONEY? THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS, THE CHECKS THEY ARE SENDING YOU ARE FAKE!
Scam Alert Points:
1. Note the use of free webmail addresses by the scammer
2. The attempt to switch the victim to another email address in case the first one gets closed for spamming
3. Email is not actually addressed to you
4. You have never bought a ticket or entered this lottery.
EXAMPLE OF SCAM LOTTERY EMAIL:
From: UK ONLINE LOTTERY <uk_lottogames@msn.com>
Date: Nov 6, 2005 5:32 AM
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION
The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw (#1028) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,
online Sweepstakes International program held on Wednesday November 2nd
2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545188 with Serial
number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 02-05-13-30-39-49(bonus no.), which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,400,000 ( one
million four hundred thousand pound sterling) in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.
This is from a total cash prize of £14,000,000 shared amongst the first
ten (10) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World
Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
unions, associations and corporate bodies that are listed online. This
promotion takes place weekly.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.
In view of this,you have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
£1,400,000 ( one million four hundred thousand pound sterling) .This sum
will be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.
Our European agents will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact them.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential until your claims is processed and your money remitted to you
in whatever manner you deem fit.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program.Please be warned.
To file for your claims, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr Graham Wright.
Email: grahamwalpole02@yahoo.com
Goodluck from me and members of staff of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
Richard K. Lloyd.
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program