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 "Mr. Ted Muller" at "AUSSIE INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Mr. Harry Smith/Mrs. Susan Hartford" to collect your winnings? Notice that the so-called "Australian Lottery" is being held in London, England, and they are asking you to reply to a free Yahoo email account from Hong Kong. If that doesn't make you realize it is a scam, you are unbelievably gullible. 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 "AUSSIE INTERNATIONAL 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 it's own email, it's 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! It should read: "For our own security, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until we have finished scamming you!"
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.
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
From: "Aussie Lottery" <result1025@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: aussielottery55@yahoo.com.hk
Subject: You Have Won GBP£1,000,000.00 (Contact The Claims Agent)
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:24:43 +0000
AUSSIE INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES,
Corporate Headquarters,
91 Station Road,
West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7LT,
United Kingdom.
*****************************
Ref: AISUK/941OHK/04
Batch: 14/65/0039
*****************************
Lucky Winner,
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the Aussie Lottery International program held on the 5th of February 2007 in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 564-75600545-188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky numbers: 31-6-26-13-35-7, which subsequently won you the lottery prize in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP£1,000,000.00 (One million great Britain pounds) in cash credited to file C/9080118308/02. This is from a total cash prize of GBP£50 Million pounds, shared amongst the first fifteen (15) lucky winners in this category.This years Lottery Program Jackpot is the 2nd largest ever for the European Lottery. The estimated £75 million jackpot would be the sixth biggest in the European history. The biggest was the £363 million jackpot that went to two winners in a May 2000 drawing of the big game, mega millions predecessor.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in UK as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your GBP£1,000,000.00 (One million great Britain pounds) would be released to you by our affiliate agent payment center in London.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him. All participants were selected randomly (Electronically) from the 'World Wide Web' site through a computer ballot system and extracted from over 100,000 company addresses. This promotion takes place annually.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money transferred to a designated bank account of your choice. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
ELIGIBILITY:
This promotion is offered electronically via the Internet and is open to all persons from age 20 years and above with a valid email address. Principals and employees of the Aussie Lottery Promos and its respective Parents, subsidiaries and their immediate families are not eligible.CLAIMS PROCEDURES:
It is our standard practice to allocate accredited agents for the processing of claims application. It is even more imperative for oversea winners. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised as a matter of urgency, to contact the under listed licensed and accredited claims agent for the processing of your prize award winning. Please contact the accredited agent assigned with the verification of all emerged winners.AGENT: Mr. Harry Smith/Mrs. Susan Hartford
Email: aussielottery55@yahoo.com.hk
Phone: +44 704 571 2589
+44 704 570 4870
Note that all claim process and clearance procedures must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claim. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
NB: PLEASE SEE THAT YOU QUOTE YOUR REF AND BATCH NUMBERS IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE TO YOUR CLAIMS AGENT.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Ted Muller.
AFRO-ASIAN Zonal Coordinator. Aussie Lotto International
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