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 "Mrs. Nancy Viduka" at "Australian Lotto Lottery INC" (that's how they spelled it!) telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "REV. DR. GEORGE HARRY" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. Would your really expect a religious minister, with a PhD to be a "fiducially agent" (that's not even a proper word!) for an Australian Lottery with a branch in Nigeria? You have to be desperately stupid and gullible to take this scam seriously.
If that weren't enough, 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 "Australian Lotto Lottery INC".
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 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.
"AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY ORGANISATION WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE"
<aussie_lott.org@hotmail.com>Subject: YOU HAVE WON $450,000.00 USD {CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!}
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 12:18:39 +0000
FROM:THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ON-LINE CO-ORDINATOR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRICE AWARD DEPARTMENT
AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY COPORATION.
ELETRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION AWARD PRESENTATION CENTER. SOUTH-AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA.
WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE!!!!!!!!!!!
LOTTERY INT'L. 5th Floor East Commonwealth Centre 55 Currie Street Adelaide SA 5000, South-Australia. AUSTRALIA.
DATE: 4TH JANUARY, 2008.
Ref: 475061725
Batch:7056490902/188
Winning no: GB8701/LPRC:RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 4TH JANUARY, 2008. from the Australian International Lottery programmed. Which is fully based on electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses from some site. Your email address was attached to ticket number; 17212, serial number 7741137002 This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 8382-42 bonus number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the second category. You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of US$450,000.00 (FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credit file ref:ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize shared amongst eight lucky winners in this category. All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually. This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your details (e-mail address) falls within our European representative office in Amsterdam, Holland, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$450,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office in NIGERIA. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for US$1.3 Billion international draw. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our fiducially agent
DIRECTOR, REV. DR. GEORGE HARRY AT director_rev_georgeharry1955@yahoo.com.au to file foryour claim. Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on the top left corner of this notification as well as your full name,address and telephone number to help locate your file easily. For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programmed by non-participant or unofficial personnel. Note, all winnings MUST be claimed before the 21ST 0F JANUARYR 2008; otherwise all funds will be returned as unclaimed and eventually donated to charity organization.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.
CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT AT director_rev_georgeharry1955@yahoo.com.au
ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact your claims agent DIRECTOR, REV. DR. GEORGE HARRY AT director_rev_georgeharry1955@yahoo.com.au by filling this form below and send it to him to file for your claim.
TELL:+234-803-521-1539.
FULLNAME............................
DATE OF BIRTH.......................
ADDRESS.............................
SEX.........................
AGE.....
NATIONALITY.........................
OCCUPATION..........................
TELEPHONE...........................
EMAIL...............................
DATE................................
Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on the top left corner of this notification as well as your full name, address and telephone number to help locate your file easily. ANYONE BELOW EIGHTEEN (17) YEARS OF AGE CAN MAKE HIS/ HER CLAIM IN PROXY THROUGH EITHER OF THE PARENTS AND DO INFORM THE AGENT INCHARGE.
Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!
Best Regards,
Mrs. Nancy Viduka. (Co-ordinator).
Australian Lotto Lottery INC.
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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