Consumer Fraud Reporting
Euro Continental
Reporting on the Latest Frauds, Scams, Fake Lotteries, Spams and Hoaxes

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Sample Lottery Scam Email: Euro Continental Lottery

Below is an actual scam reply email purporting to be from the "Euro Continental Lottery".  The would be victim, responded to the first email, then received this one, which says they can not receive their "winnings" until they pay the tax.  Hmmm, so now you would have to be wealthy to win a lottery... because (according to the scammers), the taxes are due BEFORE you win the money.  What a scam!

In addition to the usual clues, notice the gibberish writing.  The sentences don't even make sense.  Hardly what a professional (i.e., real) lottery would do. Note the other clues to an obvious fraud that we have highlighted in the letter; keep confidential, selected by a random computer lottery of email addresses, use of free hotmail/yahoo email accounts, etc.

Also see these pages:

For scam company names that start with other letters, click on the letter:

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J-K L  M  N  O  P  Q-R  S  T  U-V  W-X-Y-Z

                                          19/01/07       Fax : 00 34 658 316 483       EURO CONTINENTAL  SECURITIES     Page 1/1

 

                                                                              escudo.gif (2541 bytes)                                                                                                         

                      MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA 

OFFICINA DE GOBIERNO

C/MISERICORDIA 23, MANZANARES 28082

MADRID, SPAIN                                  

confidential                                                              TEL/EFAX : +34 695 420 314

 

Director,

Foreign Remittances and Operations,                 

Banco Banesto(Credit Bank)

Madrid,Spain                                                              ref:MHE/ELI/005978/C3/1452

                                                                        

                                                                                                          January 19,2007

 

                                    IMMEDIATE PAYMENT  STOP  ORDER 48.011C

 We refer to your application reference number ELI/3551/003/06S and the subsequent APPROVAL  for the International Payment Clearance (IPC )of the  EURO CONTINENTAL  LOTTERY  won fund  of 815,810.00euros  (eight hundred and fifteen ,eight hundred and ten euros only)already approved  in favour of Simong Siev of 44 Noutilus Road, South,Australia,Australia..

After due verifications, we are dismayed to notice the absence of Value Added Tax Payment Receipt for Non European Residents in the file of the beneficiary.

In compliance with Act 93 section5 pp1-5of the 20th December,1991 of Lottery Payment Regulations,it is here by directed that release of the  IRREVOCABLE BANK DRAFT in favour of Simong Siev be stopped immediately pending the compliance of the beneficiary with the payment  which in her category is  2,871.00 AUD

The Director Foreign Operations is hereby further directed to release the Bank Draft  immediately to the Courier Agency for immediate delivery to the beneficiary on presentation of the receipt of payment of Value Added Tax  for Non European Residents which in this category is 2,871.00 AUD only(two thousand, eight hundred and seventy  one dollars  ONLY)  in accordance with the Royal Decree 1816/1991 ;Lotteries Commission Act 93 section5 pp1-5of the 20th December,1991.

 

Signature of Ellen Margrethe LųjThank you for your understanding

 

                

Don Manuel Fernandez

DeputyDirector General

Common signs that it is a scam:

  • The recipient "won" without buying a ticket (so where does the money come from?)

  • "For security reasons" you're not allowed to talk to anyone about it (especially the police or consumerfraudreporting.org!) - which ought to be odd since lotteries thrive on publicity!

Names of Scam / Fake / Fraud Lottery 

Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies

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Copyright CFR 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009  - Definition of scam, fraud, etc. -  Legal disclaimer / corrections / complaints  -  Privacy Policy
Names used by scammers in the examples on this page and others often belong to real people and businesses who often have no knowledge of nor connection to the scammer's use of their name and information.  Sample scam emails and other documents are copies of the scam to help potential victims recognize and avoid it.  You should presume that any names used and presented here in a scam are either fictitious or used without their legitimate owner's permission.
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