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 "Rev. Norlan Davies" at the "British Lottery" telling you that you won the a prize and to contact "Mr. Aston Smith"? It is a scam.
There are only two legal large lotteries in Britain, the National Lottery and the Monday Lottery, anyway. You must buy a ticket in order to win, and even if you bought a ticket, it is up to you to match the numbers and notify them that you won - they wouldn't notify you (how would they know you won, anyway!?) Below is a scam email actually received.
DO NOT reply to any emails you receive that claim you have won a lottery that you did not enter. They are frauds. You will lose your money. There is no "free lunch"; don't be foolish and believe a scam! We can not say it any more plainly: YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL BY ANY LEGITIMATE LOTTERY THAT YOU WON A PRIZE. If you do receive such an email, it IS a fraud, do not reply to it! If you DID reply to one, see this page to find out what happens next!
Other resources:
Also
In the UK, call the hotline at 020 7211 8111 to check or report lottery scams.
There are many other signs that this is a fraud that we have highlighted in the email below, typically including one or more of these:
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. Your email address cannot ever "win" you a 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 random CapItaLiZAtion and often can't even spell "February" or know that "22th" ought to be "22nd". Real lotteries proofread their emails and use people who can write above the 3rd grade level.
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!
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.
Courier / delivery charges are high due to Hardcover insurance Policy - If you respond to them, you will usually receive an email telling you you must pay delivery charges. First, as we mentioned earlier, no winner would ever have to pay delivery charges in a real lottery, sweepstakes or promotion. Secondly, there is no such thing as "hardcover insurance policies" . Go search in Google and see if you can find a definition for it!
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
From: British Lottery < service@britishlotteryuk.com >
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 6:42:47 PM
Subject: Payment Approval NotificationAttention: Winner,
This office is in receipt of the information you provided for the processing of your lottery winnings, We are happily to announce to you that you have been verify by the Verifications Department of the British Lottery and clear for payment of 980,000.00 Pounds Sterling by the British Lottery Organization. Rest assured that all Information/Personal Details given to us by you will be kept confidential.
To begin the final step of the claims process is the transfer of your winnings to your destination bank account. I have file an APPLICATION FOR FUNDS RELEASE of your winnings to you. The Bank will contact you shortly with all requirement needed for the release of your winnings in the amount of 980,000.00 Pounds Sterling to you.
Attach to this e-mail is a scan copy of your winnings certificate that was issued by the British Lottery Board of Director.
London Time Bank is the Bank that was asigned for the transfer of your winnings to your destination bank account in your region and below is their contact details you can as well contact them.
International Transfer Unit
London Time Bank
Tel: +44-703-194-9282
Fax: +44-203-031-1034.
Email: info@londontimebank-uk.com
Transfer Officer: Mr. Aston Smith
Note that as soon as the London Time Bank is in contact with you. You are required to keep me updated of every correspondence and of progress with the London Time Bank as soon as possible. It is my responsibility, as your claims agent, to ensure that you get paid and on time too. Again, it is important that you keep all your winning particulars and Ref/batch personal and confidential until your prize money has been paid to you.
This is a security measure to avoid double claiming or/and impersonation.
Good luck and Congratulation once again.
Warm Regards,
Rev. Norlan Davies.
British Lottery Agent
..................................................................................................
Information contained in this e-mail is intended for the use of the addressee only, and is confidential and may be the subject of Legal Professional Privilege. Any dissemination, distribution, copying or use of this communication without prior permission of the addressee is strictly prohibited.
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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